The Patriots went into the 2024 season with one of the worst rosters in the entire NFL, and in a lot of ways, they lived up to that unfortunate preseason moniker each and every week. It was apparent that the season wasn't going to be easy for many reasons, the lack of roster talent being one of them, on top of an inexperienced coaching staff, and it's what bit them on more than one occasion.
The shining lights remained to be rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who overcame the odds of working with a questionable offensive line and less-than-ideal receiving corps, and cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who returned this year after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4 last year.
There were concerns about how he would bounce back after looking like a star through just a few games as a rookie, but he proved to be All-Pro material almost immediately, becoming the face of the formerly dominant defense in New England.
However, their teammates weren't on the same level in every game, leading to more problems than anything else in their quest to be an improved team from last year. The offense didn't appear to have made any strides outside of the quarterback position, and the defense declined in Bill Belichick's absence, making it easy to assume which players won't be returning in 2025.
5 Patriots players who definitely played their last game in New England
T Vederian Lowe
The offensive line was one of the biggest issues the Patriots' offense faced throughout the 2024 season. It was the main reason many didn't want to see rookie quarterback Drake Maye be the starter in Week 1 and remained concerned once he was eventually put under center.
The lack of urgency from the new regime to find competent tackles proved to be one of their most crucial mistakes during the offseason. Their lack of protection on Maye forced far too many scrambles by the quarterback, many of which were due to the weakness of the left side, and Vederian Lowe was the one to blame.
Besides being inconsistent with his blocking, Lowe also racked up several penalties during the season, most of which were before the football was even snapped. That put Maye in unfavorable situations far too often and made any sort of offensive progress nearly impossible.
Lowe did have weeks of solid performance and was suitable for a good stretch, however. He's far from the long-term solution on the offensive line, and there's no reason for the Patriots to retain him beyond a backup role.
QB Jacoby Brissett
With Maye solidifying himself as the quarterback of the future and Joe Milton III impressing in their season finale game, it looks like the need for Jacoby Brissett as the veteran backup might not be necessary next year. It would seem more sensible to bring in a guy who is comfortable being in a backup role, and that's not something Brissett appeared to be good with after he was benched in Week 6.
That was probably due to being under the impression he would play the entire season since there was a consistent belief Maye would watch his rookie season from the sideline. Brissett was pulled in October and only got back on the field when the rookie suffered a concussion against the Jets.
It was what was best for the team, and although he won them that game, Brissett didn't prove to be worth the expense as a backup in 2025. He was a terrific teammate and a great mentor to Maye and Milton, but given that he hopes to continue being a starter, it's fair to assume he already has one foot out the door.
C Ben Brown
The Patriots were in trouble when starting center and 2024 captain David Andrews went down with what would be deemed a season-ending injury in the first few weeks. There was no backup plan to deal with the significant loss, especially since the offensive line was already a mess, and their only immediate solution was to use practice squad players to fill in his absence.
It was clear right away that the plan was not going to work, with the backups they had proving to be more of a liability than helpful, forcing the team to look around the league for another solution. That's when they signed Ben Brown from the Raiders practice squad, and just three days later, he was the starter on game day.
It was a risky move but proven to be the right one, as Brown eventually became the most consistent and reliable lineman on the team. He caught on impressively quick and protected Maye with ease. It was a welcomed sight considering what the rookie was dealing with on either side and Brown proved to be a great midseason signing at the right time.
While all that remains true as the season ends, with Cole Strange returning from injured reserve and taking over at center and Andrews expected to return for the 2025 season, it's unlikely Brown will be back on the roster next year. He might find a spot on the practice squad, but there might also be some other free agent options the new head coach will consider.
K Joey Slye
A rough rooke season from Chad Ryland last year forced the new regime to bring in the competition during training camp by signing veteran Joey Slye. He well traveled kicker has been mostly solid wherever he went, and made for one of the more exciting roster battles of the summer for fans to watch.
For most of the preseason, Ryland and Slye were neck and neck, making it almost impossible to determine who the Patriots would ultimately choose to be the guy for the job. Eventually, it became clear it was Slye's job to lose and that led to Ryland being released during roster cuts in August.
It looked like the right decision was made to start the season, as Slye was reliable and consistently hitting every kick no matter how far he was asked to. It was a sigh of relief for the team and fans after an untrustworthy few years from various kickers, only for that to fall apart as the season progressed.
It eventually go to a point where Slye began missing chip shot field goals and even an extra point, becoming more of a liability on the field than the help they believed he would be. His performance stood out more upon seeing Ryland thrive as the kicker for the Cardinals and piling up last-second wins for his team.
LB Jahlani Tavai
Since arriving in New England in 2021, linebacker Jahlani Tavai hasn't made much of an impact on the Patriots' defense. He wasn't considered a significant player, given that he spent just two seasons with the Lions prior to signing with New England. The assumption had been that he followed his former head coach, Matt Patricia, to the Northeast.
However, after an impressive 2023 season, some of that changed. Tavai earned a contract extension during the 2024 offseason, and it looked like the Patriots were finally closer to having a highly productive linebacker group once again.
The group took a big hit before the season began with the trade of Matthew Judon to the Falcons, and not long after, Joshua Uche being sent to the Chiefs. But that didn't seem to matter much in the longrun because guys like Tavai, who should have taken advantage of the new opportunity to rise in the ranks, didn't do anything positively impactful.
Whatever we saw from him last year seems like a thing of the past and he has not come anywhere near replicating that production this year.
To make matters worse, he dug himself into a hole that he won't be able to get himself out of when asked about Patriots fans booing the team over the final few weeks of the season. His comments were considered out of line and misunderstood the fan's point of view, and they did not sit well with Patriots Nation.
What does Tavai think of some of his teammates being frustrated with fans 'booing'? Should fans "Know their place"? #NFL @WEEI pic.twitter.com/P2BrK2Ovcm
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) January 3, 2025
While his comments won't necessarily be the reason the Patriots move on from Tavai, it wouldn't be surprising if it is considered during the offseason. The Patriots are a franchise that historically understands how important the fans are and want their support, so undermining them or insulting them is not something they'll ever see.
It also seemed like the coaching staff sent a message to Tavai by having a practice squad linebacker get the start over him in the season finale, which might tell us everything we need to know about his future on the team.