If you read my 2025 Pre-Draft Team Preview of New England you could see that I felt that they needed help on both sides of the ball being a 4-13 team. Here I will go into detail regarding the offense of the team and how it looked like during the 2024 season and more importantly how it projects to look like heading into next season. Quarterback Drake Maye is a young stud at the QB position and the Patriots have made several key transactions this offseason in order to bolster their play on the offensive side of the ball. As stated previously, as a 4-13 team the Patriots had holes all over the place as both sides of the ball really struggled this past season. The Patriots were amongst the weakest offensive teams in the NFL this past season and their 2024 regular season offensive statistics/metrics can be found below.
2024 New England Patriots Offensive Statistics/Metrics
30th in points per game
31st in yards per game
30th in overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from the above data the Patriots were in the argument for being perhaps the weakest overall offensive team in the NFL this past season ranking bottom three in all three of the major metrics listed above. The Patriots started the season playing Jacoby Brissett at QB but then eventually turned to rookie third overall pick Drake Maye. I am very optimistic about Maye’s future prospects in the NFL as he had a remarkable rookie season. Maye despite being surrounded by amongst the league’s weakest offensive personnel and maybe the league’s weakest offensive coaching in addition to it, still put up solid numbers despite having maybe the weakest surrounding offensive circumstances in the league and being a rookie. I think Drake Maye will almost certainly end up being at least a tier 2 level Jared Goff/Jalen Hurts caliber of QB for his career and he certainly has what it takes to perhaps become a tier 1 caliber QB such as Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes as well. The Patriots this past season had a rookie defensive minded head coach and an unproven offensive coordinator who were both fired right after the season, hence the argument for the Patriots this past season being perhaps the weakest coached offensive team in the NFL. Heading into next season they have brought back former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels who has won six Super Bowls while being on the New England staff. They have also hired former Titans coach and former New England Patriots player Mike Vrabel as the new head coach of the team. The two will be on the clock to provide Drake Maye with more adept coaching on the offensive side of the ball heading into next season. The subpar offensive personnel in addition to the relatively weak offensive coaching this past season was also a concern. Below I have done a unit-by-unit breakdown of the New England offensive personnel from the 2024 season and also heading into the 2025 season. In that breakdown I have provided the offense grade that each player was given by Pro Football Focus over the course of the 2024 season. In addition to it I have also included my own subjective grade of the player that indicates how strong they are outside of just the 2024 season. Beginning below with the offensive line of the Patriots in 2024 and heading into 2025.
2024 New England Patriots Starting Offensive Line
LT – Vederian Lowe – (72/87) offense grade in 2024 over 803 snaps, C to C-
LG – Michael Jordan – (75/83) offense grade in 2024 over 684 snaps, C-
C – Ben Brown – (42/43) offense grade in 2024 over 667 snaps, D to D+
RG – Mike Onwenu – (37/83) offense grade in 2024 over 1020 snaps, B+ to A-
RT – Demontrey Jacobs – (87/87) offense grade in 2024 over 867 snaps, D to D+
2024 New England Patriots Reserve Offensive Linemen
T – Caedan Wallace – (85/87) offense grade in 2024 over 129 snaps, D+
T – Chukwuma Okorafor – only 12 snaps in 2024, C
T – Zach Thomas – (69/87) offense grade in 2024 over 101 snaps, C to C-
G – Lester Cotton – (67/83) offense grade in 2024 over 19 snaps, C to C-
G – Sidy Sow – (83/83) offense grade in 2024 over 155 snaps, C+ to B-
G – Layden Robinson – (80/83) offense grade in 2024 over 602 snaps, D+ to C-
G – Lecitus Smith – only 5 snaps in 2024, D
G – Tyrese Robinson – (15/83) offense grade in 2024 in 61 snaps, B+ in only career snaps
C – David Andrews – (34/43) offense grade in 2024 in 193 snaps, B+
C – Cole Strange – (43/43) offense grade in 2024 in 117 snaps, C+ to B-
C – Nick Leverett – (43/43) offense grade in 2024 in 117 snaps, C to C+
2024 New England Patriots Key Offensive Line Metrics
31st in pass blocking efficiency according to Pro Football Focus
31st in pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
32nd in run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
26th in sacks allowed
As you can see from this last set of data the Patriots had one of the weakest if not the weakest offensive line in the NFL this past season. Outside of starting right guard Mike Onwenu, the rest of the offensive line left much to be desired. Heading into next season the front office has retooled the offensive line by adding three new starters. They drafted tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick and he is currently slated to start at left tackle. They signed former first round pick Garrett Bradbury who is currently in line to start at center. They have also signed veteran tackle Morgan Moses who is currently listed as the starter at right tackle. New England has also drafted interior offensive lineman Jared Wilson relatively high in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. New England is also optimistic that a few of the aforementioned young players can really step up their game heading into next season. Young players such as guard Cole Strange who was a first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who has shown lots of promise but has struggled to stay healthy which included missing most of last season due to injury. A young player such as guard Layden Robinson who although he had a down rookie season, was still drafted relatively high in the fourth round in 2024. Tackle Caeden Wallace who also had a meager rookie season but was also drafted pretty high in the 3rd round of the 2024 NFL Draft. A young player such as guard Tyrese Robinson who looked very strong albeit in very limited snaps thus far in the NFL. And finally, a young player such as guard Sidy Sow who was a 4th rounder in 2023 who has shown a ton of promise thus far in the NFL. The projected 2025 lineup for the Patriots on the offensive front can be found below.
Projected 2025 New England Patriots Starting Offensive Line
LT – Will Campbell – 2025 fourth overall pick
LG – Cole Strange – C+ to B-
C – Garrett Bradbury – C to C+
RG – Mike Onwenu – B+ to A-
RT – Morgan Moses – B-
Projected 2025 New England Patriots Reserve Offensive Linemen
T – Vederian Lowe – D+ to C-
G – Layden Robinson – D so far as 2024 fourth rounder
C – Jared Wilson – 2025 third rounder
T – Caedan Wallace – D so far as 2024 third rounder
T – Marcus Bryant – 2025 7th rounder
G – Tyrese Robinson – B+ in very limited sample size of snaps
G – Ben Brown – D
G – Sidy Sow – B-
T – Demontrey Jacobs – D
G – Mekhi Butler – UDFA 2025
G – Jack Conley – UDFA 2025
G – Yasir Durant – C-
The Patriots offensive line has nowhere to go but up from the 2024 season and projects to be a much better unit next season. However, I still feel as if the unit will have its limitations next season and I think it will be a solid but not spectacular unit at best. As projected left tackle starter Will Campbell will still be a rookie, former first rounders Cole Strange and Garrett Bradbury who are both projected starters have shown potential but have had their ups and downs. While new right tackle Morgan Moses is approaching the end of his career and it remains to be seen how productive he will be at such an advanced age. On the bright side, starting guard Mike Onwenu will be a steady force on the starting offensive line, the team also has several players who could provide strong depth who also could eventually transition into a starting role. As stated previously the offensive line will be much better than it was this past season but I think it will be a solid but not spectacular unit at the very best. If the young players who were once high draft picks really come into their own and play near their full potential and/or if Morgan Moses has a strong season at an advanced age, the offensive line could be very good and perhaps more than just a solid unit. I have conducted a similar analysis of the team’s skill position players which can be found below as well starting with the wide receiver unit of the team.
Patriots 2024 Wide Receivers
WR – Kayshon Boutte – (89/110) offense grade in 2024 in 760 snaps, C to C-
WR – Demario Douglas – (56/110) offense grade in 2024 in 678 snaps, B to B-
WR – Kendrick Bourne – (87/110) offense grade in 2024 In 456 snaps, C to C+
WR – Ja’Lynn Polk – (110/110) offense grade in 2024 in 436 snaps, D so far as ’24 2nd rd
WR – K.J Osborn – (109/110) offense grade in 2024 in 231 snaps, C
WR – Tyquan Thornton – (107/110) offense grade in 2024 in 111 snaps, D+ to C-
WR – Javon Baker – (108/110) offense grade in 2024 in 90 snaps, D+
WR – Alex Erickson – 0 receptions in 14 snaps in 2024, C to C-
The New England Patriots, even dating back to the Brady-Belichick era, have always deemphasized the wide receiver position almost to a fault. This trend has continued even since that era has ended and although wide receivers are maybe a bit overstated because of the flashiness of the position, the Patriots in recent memory have deemphasized the importance of the position almost to a fault. Last season the Patriots wide receiver unit was amongst the weakest in the NFL if not the weakest in the NFL. As every single wide receiver who played for New England this past season was graded as below average in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. No wide receiver on the team did I evaluate to be a good enough player to even warrant an overall grade higher than the B to B- range as well. Heading into the 2025 season, the Patriots front office has retooled the wide out unit of the team by adding some notable pieces. In particular, the Patriots have added star wide out Stefon Diggs. Diggs, who is aging on the wrong side of thirty years old and who is coming off a big injury, still was an A level receiver for most of his career including this past season before he suffered a season-ending injury. How productive Diggs will be as he turns 32 years old in the middle of next season while coming off a torn ACL will be intriguing to see. But regardless, Diggs will only help a New England wide receiver unit in desperate need of it. New England also drafted wide receiver Kyle Williams in the third round of this year’s draft to bolster the wide out unit as well. Similar to Diggs, Williams will only help a marginally talented wide receiver core for the Patriots, but as a rookie who was not even drafted in the first two rounds, I question if he will make a big impact for the Patriots next season. Demario Douglas was the bright spot of the New England wide out core this past season and I graded him in the B to B- range as a player. Perhaps as he is now placed in potentially far better offensive circumstances than he has been thus far in his career, he can prove to be more than just a B to B- level player. The addition of Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams will only help a New England wide out core that has essentially nowhere to go but up. But I still feel as if New England’s wide receiver will be solid but not spectacular at best next season. But if Stefon Diggs can still produce at close to his prime level, if Kyle Williams has a strong rookie season, and if Demario Douglas can really come into his own, that trio of wide outs could be very formidable. In addition to it, Ja’Lynn Polk was drafted very highly at the top of the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft but was unable to do much as a rookie. If Polk can start to play like his draft standing indicates he is capable of doing, he would be a very strong receiving option for New England as well.
The projected 2025 wide receiver core for the New England Patriots can be found below.
Projected 2025 New England Patriots Wide Receivers
WR – Stefon Diggs – B+ to A-
WR – Demario Douglas – B to B-
WR – Kyle Williams – 2025 third rounder
WR – Kayshon Boutte – C
WR – Mack Hollins – C to C-
WR – Kendrick Bourne – C to C+
WR – Ja’Lynn Polk – D so far as 2024 2nd rounder
WR – Javon Baker – 1 career reception, 2024 fourth rounder
WR – Efton Chism – UDFA 2025
WR – John Jiles – UDFA 2024, 0 career receptions
WR – Demeer Blankumsee – UDFA 2025
WR – Jeremiah Webb – UDFA 2025
The Patriots wide receiver unit heading into 2025 has many what ifs, but if some young players really come into their own, along with a veteran retaining strong form, the wide receiver unit could actually be very strong. I have conducted a similar evaluation of the team’s tight end unit as well.
New England Patriots 2024 Tight End Unit
TE – Hunter Henry – (17/45) offense grade in 2024 in 835 snaps, B+
TE – Austin Hooper – (7/45) offense grade in 2024 in 574 snaps, B
TE – Jaheim Bell – (33/45) offense grade in 2024 in 84 snaps, C so far as 7th rd ‘24
TE – Jack Westover – UDFA 2024, 0 receptions in 1 career game
TE – Mitchell Wilcox – DNP in 2024, D+ to C-
The Patriots tight end unit last season was pretty strong as they had amongst the better tight end tandems in the NFL with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. The emphasis the New England Patriots put on the tight end unit dates back to the Brady-Belichick era, i.e. the team having Rob Gronkowski. Heading into the 2025 campaign, the team has retained their top two tight ends and the unit also projects to be very formidable heading into next season as well. The projected 2025 lineup for the New England Patriots at tight end looks like the following.
New England Patriots 2025 Projected Tight End Lineup
TE – Hunter Henry – (17/45) offense grade in 2024 in 835 snaps, B+
TE – Austin Hooper – (7/45) offense grade in 2024 in 574 snaps, B
TE – Jaheim Bell – (33/45) offense grade in 2024 in 84 snaps, C so far as 7th rd ‘24
TE – Jack Westover – UDFA 2024, 0 receptions in 1 career game
With so many what ifs and question marks for New England offensively heading into next season, I can say with a strong level of certainty that they will get high level play out of their tight end spot. I have conducted a similar analysis of the Patriots running back unit heading into next season as well.
New England Patriots 2024 Running Backs
HB – Rhamondre Stevenson – (31/58) offense grade in 2024 in 599 snaps, B
HB – Antonio Gibson – (27/57) offense grade in 2024 in 358 snaps, C+
HB – Jamycal Hasty – (30/57) offense grade in 2024 in 107 snaps, C to C-
HB – Terrell Jennings – (58/58) offense grade in 2024 in 38 snaps, D-
The Patriots backfield in the 2024 season had some talent but also its limitations. Rhamondre Stevenson, as the team’s primary running back is very capable and talented but has had his ups and downs thus far in his career. Stevenson in his first two NFL seasons graded as above average to well above average in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. But graded below average in that same department for the past two seasons in a row now. Perhaps because of New England’s deadbeat offensive culture in recent memory, Stevenson has struggled to consistently produce at peak form. Maybe now that New England has revamped their offensive culture with the hire of McDaniels and Vrabel along with them onboarding some high-level players, maybe Stevenson can fully come into his own and emerge as a star building off his first two seasons in the NFL where he was on pace to be that. Antonio Gibson was a solid but not spectacular number two back this past season as well. Heading into next season the Patriots have retained Stevenson and Gibson but have added one notable piece to their backfield as well. They drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and are hopeful he can be a high-level complementary back to Stevenson. The projected New England running back room for 2025 can be found below.
Projected Patriots 2025 Running Back Unit
HB – Rhamondre Stevenson – (31/58) offense grade in 2024 in 599 snaps, B
HB – TreVeyon Henderson – 2025 second rounder
HB – Antonio Gibson – (27/57) offense grade in 2024 in 358 snaps, C+
HB – Trayveon Williams – C to C+
If Stevenson and Henderson play to their full potential, New England could have a very scary running back tandem that borders on elite.
In totality, one could make a very strong argument that the New England Patriots were the worst offensive team in the NFL this past 2024 season. So, they have nowhere to go but up, and if things fall into place, I could actually see them being very stout offensively next season. Drake Maye is a young stud at the QB position, Josh McDaniels is maybe the most decorated offensive coordinator in league history, and the Patriots have revamped their offensive personnel this offseason. However, they do not have a singular player on offense as of now who I graded to be in the A range. They also have several players whom I question what I will really get from them because of either youth, older age, or consistency concerns. For instance, how good will Stefon Diggs be approaching 32 years old and coming off a torn ACL? How good will rookie first rounder Will Campbell be in his first NFL season? How good will veteran Morgan Moses be as he approaches the end of his career? How good is Rhamondre Stevenson as a running back in actuality? How good will TreVeyon Henderson be as a rookie? Questions like that exist essentially everywhere offensively for the Patriots. With Drake Maye only being in his 2nd NFL season, Mike Vrabel being in just his first season as the Patriots head coach, along with Josh McDaniels being in just his first season back as the offensive coordinator of New England, along with all three of those individuals being in just their first season together, could mean trouble for the Patriots offensively. That combined with all the questions New England has from an offensive personnel perspective, could certainly mean that there will be growing pains in the 2025 season offensively for New England. However, New England can certainly be very good offensively next season as Maye from a QB talent perspective, McDaniels/Vrabel from an offensive coaching perspective, along with New England’s raw offensive talent from a personnel perspective, are all very formidable. However, there are a ton of question marks, and in year 1 of the Maye/Vrabel/McDaniels era offensively, I doubt they will be in peak form and there certainly will be some growing pains offensively.
