On paper, running back James Robinson appears to be the classic case of the Patriots taking a wild stab on a player.

Will he be the same productive back he was with Jacksonville in 2020, when he became just the fourth undrafted rookie ever to hit 1,000 yards rushing?

Or, will he be the same player he was with the Jets last season after arriving in New York after the trade deadline? Basically, a spare part.

Robinson, who met the media Thursday, talked about what drew him to New England as a free agent.

He said after meeting with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, and running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri, he was convinced the Patriots were the best team for him.

“When I played for the Jets, it seemed like they liked to run the ball,” said Robinson, who signed a two-year deal for up to $8 million. “They got great backs with Rhamondre (Stevenson) and those other guys. I just like the way they do things around here . . . it seemed like a good fit.”

The concern with Robinson goes back to the torn left Achilles tendon he suffered late in the 2021 season.

He came back from the injury in 2022 with Jacksonville, but he wasn’t quite as effective, and the emergence of Travis Etienne reduced his role. So he became expendable, landing with the Jets.

“It wasn’t ideal, moving around like that,” he said. “It was kind of hard to find my role.”

The Illinois State product, however, said he was “really looking forward” to showing everyone he’s still the same back he was pre-injury.

Along with his rushing prowess, Robinson has shown to be effective as a pass catcher.

During that rookie campaign, he also caught 49 passes for 344 receiving yards to go along with 1,070 rushing yards.

“I feel like I do it quite naturally,” Robinson said of his ability to catch the football.

He falls into the category of being a between-the-tackles type of runner who should complement Rhamondre Stevenson if he comes close to being what he was his rookie season.