Julian Edelman knows what it’s like to set the tone for an NFL career in a preseason debut. In 2009, one of the first times he put his hands on the ball as a Patriot, he returned a punt for a touchdown. The rest was history.

Fast-forward 16 years, and TreVeyon Henderson made an even bigger splash. In New England’s preseason opener against the Commanders, he took the opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown, the first time he had his hands on the ball.

The eras are completely different, but Edelman sees similarities to that moment and to Henderson’s potential as an NFL superstar. On a recent episode of the Patriots Talk Podcast, Edelman said it’s likely Henderson will be the biggest steal of this season’s rookie class.

“That’s the kind of guy you need to draft that becomes a part of the nucleus with Drake (Maye),” Edelman said.

Henderson was a first-round talent that fell into New England’s lap early in the second round, and Eliot Wolf did not hesitate. And that’s proving to be the right decision.

Julian Edelman’s prediction about TreVeyon Henderson will prove true

When it’s all said and done, Henderson will be one of the most talented players to come out of the 2025 draft, and the rest of the league will regret letting him slip to the Patriots. He was part of a two-back rotation at Ohio State, so his tires have much more tread on them than some of the guys drafted before him.

Henderson’s speed and physicality have been traits that Patriots fans and analysts alike have been raving about this preseason. ESPN’s Louis Riddick even said recently that if the Patriots make the playoffs, Henderson will be a big reason why. Riddick also believes that Henderson will supplant Rhamondre Stevenson as the Patriots’ top running back by the end of this season.

Guys like Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty deserve all the hype that they’re getting, but in my mind, Henderson should be a dark horse candidate to be the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. If the Patriots can make the playoffs, Henderson should get a lot of consideration.

While Edelman – a seventh-round pick who converted from quarterback to receiver – and Henderson come from different ends of the spectrum, their rookie preseasons started in similar fashions.

And if Henderson can have a career path similar to that of Edelman’s, Patriots fans will be happy.