The offseason is mainly in the books for the 2025 New England Patriots. By all accounts, it's one of, if not the best, in recent memory. While that doesn't necessarily connote an excellent team in the making, all signs point to it being a lot better than the dismal 2024 squad.
Mike Vrabel revamped all three levels of his defense through free agency, the draft, and maybe even undrafted free agency. On offense, he rebuilt anywhere from 60-80 percent of his leaky offensive line with clear upgrades in free agency and the draft, with a massive influx of talent. And, in undrafted free agency, he may uncover as many as three or more players who'll compete for roster spots.
He's also sent several veteran starters on their way, and several more may follow them. Veterans with big salaries who underperformed in 2024 are on thin ice regardless of their salary situations. Here, we'll look at four veterans who may be playing elsewhere in 2025.
4 Patriots veterans on the roster bubble before training camp
G Mike Onwenu
Mike Onwenu was considered the Patriots' best offensive lineman in the 2024 offseason. He was rewarded with a monstrous contract extension as a reward. Unfortunately, Onwenu's 2024 season was eminently forgettable. Instead of repaying his team's largesse with dedication and performance, he came to camp not looking like his typical self.
Pro Football Focus's overall 2024 grade for Onwenu was 51st out of 135 guards in the NFL. That wasn't expected after the team dropped a tackle-level bag of full money on him to play guard. If he's cut before June 1st, he'll have a whopping $27M dead cap hit.
Cutting him seems prohibitive, but the team would still save $6M on the cap. In 2026, the numbers are almost reversed, so he'll be around unless Vrabel wants to make a statement that if you get big bucks, you'd better earn them.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Another 2024 off-season contract extension recipient, Stevenson's play declined last year. In 15 games, he gained a pedestrian 801 yards, with a 3.9-yard-per-carry average and seven touchdowns. He also fumbled an inordinate seven times during drives and games.
Stevenson should be a trade candidate after June 1st. Then, his dead cap hit will only be $1.6M and the team will save nearly $4m on the cap. He didn't justify his big contract, and Vrabel is building a new model. Players who don't live up to their end of the bargain after getting paid should be shown the door. A trade after June 1st is Vrabel's best option.
S Kyle Dugger
Kyle Dugger is the third veteran who got a big payday and didn't perform up to expectations. While he played injured last season, he's had just two interceptions in the past two seasons (both in 2023). His play tailed off while his salary ballooned, a similar story to several of 2024's Patriots.
Mike Vrabel is trying to set a new tone for the 2025 Patriots, and players who don't perform up to expectations shouldn't be a part of it. He reached for a safety in the fourth round, so he should be ready to insert him into the lineup. The call is to trade the 29-year-old Dugger when it's most advantageous for the team, and move on.
WR Kendrick Bourne
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is the last of the four veterans on thin ice. He's a 2B receiver at best, but more of a No. 3. Bourne's best season in Foxborough was his first in 2021. It's been downhill since, including missing many games the past two seasons due to injury.
Bourne is another veteran from the old regime who hasn't lived up to expectations. Vrabel hasn't been reluctant to cut ties with other underperforming veterans, and Bourne should join the exodus. It's time for change, and players who didn't perform in 2024 aren't likely to in 2025 either.
Vrabel has already dramatically transformed his roster. Yet, the curtain shouldn't be wrung down yet on the 2025 rewrite. Veterans who haven't measured up and don't fit Vrabel's profile of team-first players should be ushered out, and room should be made for newcomers who do. 2024's underperforming big-salary players are prime candidates to be replaced. Few are good enough for the 2025 Patriots.