There has been a lot of excitement and optimism surrounding the Patriots this offseason, with many analysts believing they could put together the best season of the last five years under the watchful eye of new head coach Mike Vrabel.
The former Titans' coach has elevated New England's chances to heights we haven't seen since Tom Brady was under center, and the upgrades the new regime made to the roster are a big reason for that, too.
It has prompted a lot of belief in what the newly made-over team can do in all aspects of the game, as many players have risen in the rankings in all three phases. That has sparked a heated debate about who will be the best of the best by season's end, which leads us to predict who would earn the most highly regarded team awards if such awards were available for each franchise.
Luckily, there is plenty of talent to go around and acknowlege, but there are just a few of the predictions that could become true by the end of the 2025 season.
Way-too-early superlatives for the Patriots' 2025 season
MVP: QB Drake Maye
The second season for any NFL quarterback is typically very telling, and given the amount of upgrades Mike Vrabel has made to the offense, there's good reason to believe that Drake Maye wiil have a big jump this season.
With a much-improved offensive line, which was a massive detriment to Maye's success as a rookie, a better group of wide receivers to work with, including the potential best season yet from DeMario Douglas, and a jam-packed backfield led by an explosive rookie, the sky feels like the limit for the Patriots' offense.
On top of it all, Maye will have an offensive guru in his ear with the return of Josh McDaniels, a much better mentor to work with than those who have been running the offense for the last few years. All of these factors should catapult Maye to a new level, making it easy to believe he will be this year's MVP.
Offensive Player of the Year: WR DeMario Douglas
Although this very easily could have also been given to TreVeyon Henderson, there's plenty of optimism surrounding the rise of wide receiver DeMario Douglas in Josh McDaniels' offense.
The connection between him and Drake Maye was apparent last year, as Douglas recorded 66 receptions for 621 yards and three touchdowns during the season. That chemistry grew this offseason, as Douglas quickly became Maye's go-to target after Stefon Diggs, proving he's already flourishing in a slot-receiver-friendly offense.
Assuming that continues over the next 18 weeks, Douglas could become the surprise of offense and earn the right to call himself the most impactful player for Maye to work with. Based on what we've seen from players in his position throughout McDaniels' career, it doesn't feel like a stretch to believe that's a possibility.
Defensive Player of the Year: CB Christian Gonzalez
Despite likely missing the season opener this Sunday, the most consistent and impressive defensive player on the Patriots' defense over the last three years has been cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
That is expected to continue this year with a talented group around him, including Carlton Davis, who was signed in free agency earlier this year. We also saw improvement from those further down the depth chart, most notably Alex Austin and the surprising DJ James, who will (hopefully) make up for Gonzalez's absence.
The cornerback is well on his way to becoming a future First-Team All-Pro and multi-time Pro Bowler, and that could easily happen this season once he is able to take the field.
Rookie of the Year: RB TreVeyon Henderson
This might be the most obvious superlative to hand out far too early, but it's also the most exciting one, too.
It has been quite some time since the Patriots have had the fortune of an explosive running back option on their offense, and they clearly already have that with TreVeyon Henderson shockingly joining the roster from this year's draft.
The position was not one that was expected to be a priority for Vrabel and Co., but given the caliber of talent that Henderson possesses, it's easy to see why they could not bypass him for another player in the second round. In fact, every team that did pass on him is already regretting their choice after seeing how incredible he played in the preseason.
So imagine just how good he will as soon as Week 1 begins.
Best free-agent signing: WR Mack Hollins
This might be potentially controversial since Mack Hollins has received a mixed welcome from Patriots fans over the last few months. But his size and ability to make big plays over defenders are going to prove incredibly valuable for Maye and the offense this year.
His kind of talent has been lacking in the receiving corps in recent years, and based on what we saw from him in practice this summer, there's plenty to suggest he will be utilized in big moments, especially in the red zone.
It could be proven early and often that the chance of signing the former Bills' receiver will be an under-the-radar good move by the new regime, which will put all the negativity about his arrival to shame.
Biggest surprise player: DE K'Lavon Chaisson
Among the most needy positions Vrabel had to address this offseason was the pass rush, which led them to sign K'Lavon Chaisson after a standout season with the Raiders.
It was clear right away that he was signed to a one-year prove-it deal. So far, Chaisson has been far more impressive than anyone could have predicted, to the point where he's already being hailed as a sneaky good signing who will pay off massively as part of an improving defense.
Assuming he builds on the success he had in Las Vegas last year and we've only seen the beginning stages of the best year of his career, Chaisson would easily earn a permanent spot on the Patriots' roster after the 2025 season with a year that makes him a household name in New England.
There is a huge opportunity for him to carve a role for himself on the defensive line and oust others who have tried to do the same unsuccessfully over the last few years, making him a hidden gem signing that could continue to be considered one of the best of Vrabel's tenure.