Patriots 2025 Roster Projection: Best-Case Scenario For Huge Offseason

The Patriots will soon embark on a transformative offseason, which includes major organizational, staffing and roster changes. NESN gave me a shot at predicting what those changes will look like, helping turn things around for New England entering 2025. Welcome to the penultimate installment of our Patriots Manifesto, where we show you what the team will actually look like.

Part 1: The Patriots Manifesto | Part 2: Organizational Changes | Part 3: Trades | Part 4: Free Agency | Part 5: 2025 NFL Draft

The Patriots aren’t going to fix all of their issues in one offseason, but taking similar steps to the ones we laid out throughout this exercise could accelerate what should be a two- to three-year rebuild.

New England ultimately needs to add talent, which is why we primarily focused on younger players who are looking to continue building value. The Patriots can offer two things to all of them: opportunity and cash. It’s a pretty decent place to start.

It’s easy to argue building a culture starts with proven veterans, but while that might be true, there’s also something to be said about injecting this team with youth and energy. Mike Vrabel has proven himself to be a culture specialist, so let the man earn his money by inking talented players across premium positions. Eliot Wolf and Ryan Cowden will work in lockstep trying to align the front office’s vision with that of the big guy in charge, but there’s little doubt ownership will be pushing to land some big names who can immediately raise New England’s floor.

We can’t keep every single person mentioned throughout this series on the roster, however, which is why we’re going to chip it down into one final roster projection. If you’d like to see how we got there, check out the links at the top of the page.

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QUARTERBACKS (2)

Drake Maye, Joe Milton III

Maye is the face of the franchise. Milton proved himself to be a capable backup, if not a whole lot more, in the final game of the regular season. Jimmy Garoppolo is the odd man out, as our offseason signing was primarily made to provide a veteran presence throughout the offseason and give the club another arm to get through the preseason.

New England doesn’t have many position groups with proven talent, so we’re taking advantage of one of them here — entrusting a pair of sophomores with the keys moving forward.

RUNNING BACKS (4)

Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Brashard Smith, Tahj Brooks

Stevenson, Gibson, Smith and Brooks are quite the group, and served as the easiest to pare down when we did mock roster cuts. Terrell Jennings is the lone cut, as we find a way to provide legitimate depth at the position for the first time in a few seasons.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

Tee Higgins, Darius Slayton, DeMario Douglas, Jaylin Noel, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk

Higgins and Slayton were both big-money additions, and will be relied upon heavily heading into the season. Douglas holds onto his spot as a do-it-all slot receiver, with Noel and Boutte providing decent depth. Polk beats out Javon Baker in the quest to earn a sophomore season, with his draft standing and the circumstances surrounding his lost rookie season giving him a leg up.

Baker gets the axe alongside JaQuae Jackson and John Jiles.

TIGHT END (3)

Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Harold Fannin Jr.

Henry and Hooper will continue to be one of the better duos in the league in this new offense, while Fannin is added as the future of the position at One Patriot Place. Jaheim Bell is a tough cut, but you’re getting a juiced-up version of him in the rookie.

OFFENSIVE LINE (10)

Grey Zabel, Patrick Mekari, David Andrews, Michael Onwenu, Jack Conklin, Caedan Wallace, Vederian Lowe, Cole Strange, Layden Robinson, Drew Kendall

The Patriots roll two lines deep under this scenario, with adequate depth across all the tackle, guard and center positions. Zabel and Mekari aren’t the greatest options to take over at left tackle, but we believe their competition for the spot will be for the betterment of the entire group. Zabel can play guard or tackle, as can Mekari.

Sidy Sow, Ben Brown and Demontrey Jacobs? We wish you well in your future endeavors.

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DEFENSIVE LINE (6)

Christian Barmore, Levi Onwuzurike, Keion White, Davon Godchaux, Darius Alexander, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.

I’d love this group more than I could love a human baby. Barmore is a major question mark, but the upside of Onwuzurike, White and Alexander would help lessen the blow of a potential absence. Daniel Ekuale could certainly make the roster, as could someone like Jaquelin Roy.

EDGE (4)

Abdul Carter, Bryce Huff, Malcolm Koonce, Anfernee Jennings

Carter is going to be a star. Huff has been a star. Koonce showed the ability to be a feared rusher. Jennings has been one of the better run defenders in the league for two years.

“Good group, Keagan.” Thanks, reader.

LINEBACKER (4)

Ja’Whaun Bentley, Elandon Roberts, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss

Vrabel’s units typically feature smaller, more athletic linebackers. Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and Marte Mapu fit that description, though early-down snaps and leadership are what this group will bring to the table — as well as some special teams ability from the latter two.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (11)

Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Paulson Adebo, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcus Jones, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler, Marte Mapu

Gonzalez, Adebo and Jonathan Jones would be your primary cornerbacks, while Dugger and Peppers continue to be the primary guys at safety. The Patriots are in desperate need of a playmaker on the backend, though, so we’re expecting the increased depth at cornerback to allow for Marcus Jones to make the move to free safety.

It’s a decent group, as is.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Joey Slye, Bryce Baringer, Joe Cardona

New England should just run it back and figure out the kicker thing at another time.

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This “Patriots Manifesto” (patent pending) was designed to give an example of how to kickstart a rebuild, while showcasing just one of the many paths the organization can take on its journey back toward relevance. Do we expect things to play out exactly like this? No, but this is our best attempt at doing what the folks down at One Patriot Place will be tasked with over the coming months.

Let’s see if they can do any better.