At this point in any NFL season, it's pretty clear which players on a team will likely not be back the following year. It's even more apparent when the team is in the midst of a losing season, and only a handful of the roster is performing well.
That's the case for the Patriots as they are set to take on the Denver Broncos in Week 16. With just three games left, a handful of players will need to dramatically turn things around to hopefully convince the coaching staff to forget about their season-long mediocrity or risk their chances even further of ultimately being released this upcoming offseason.
Others have found it difficult to make a real impact during their time in New England, which makes it seem they will try to find another to go to when they become a free agent in March.
This list discusses the top 5 players who will likely not be back on the Patriots in 2024 for one reason or another.
Chad Ryland
In one of the more questionable moves by Bill Belichick in the 2023 draft, trading up to draft kicker Chad Ryland is near the top of the list. The roster needed a young kicker to develop and hopefully replace Nick Folk at some point since he would be turning 39 years old during the season. But instead of taking the safe route with a rookie, Belichick put his full confidence in Ryland, releasing Folk in the initial roster cutdowns.
Since then, Folk signed with the Tennessee Titans and has been one of the most reliable kickers in the league. He's missed just one field goal, which was a 50+ yarder and two extra points, compared to Ryland, who has seven field goals through 14 games.
As if that isn't problematic enough, Ryland's missed field goals have not all been from very far out. He has missed two between 30 and 39 yards, three between 4 and 49 yards, and two from 50+ yards out.
The inconsistent performances have altered a few of the Patriots' games this season, and if he continues to be a liability, it wouldn't be surprising to see the team move on from him after just one year. It's not the ideal scenario, given how badly they have been with evaluating prospective kickers when they really need one. However, testing out a new kicker may bring more positive results than sticking with an unreliable one.
Josh Uche
A player who will probably not be on the team next year for a completely different reason than Chad Ryland is linebacker Josh Uche. It won't be due to poor performance but instead due to his decision to explore free agency and sign elsewhere.
It had been reported that Bill Belichick shopped Uche before the trade deadline earlier this season, and a deal was nearly agreed upon. It is alleged it didn't pan out due to the Patriots wanting more in return for Uche and were unwilling to lower their asking price to make it happen in time.
Then recent rumors indicate Uche is unhappy with his role in the current defense, even more so in Matthew Judon's absence. He was expected to become the go-to guy with the four-time Pro Bowler's probable season-ending injury, but that has not been the case thus far.
After completing a career-best season last year, recording 27 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, and 11.5 sacks, there was optimism that Belichick had finally found the perfect player to pair up with Judon and wreak havoc on quarterbacks across the league.
It's possible that could have still happened had the team not accrued a ridiculous amount of injuries this season, but the drastic decline in Uche's production has likely raised some concerns for the team heading into the offseason.
That could be why Belichick (or whoever the GM may be) would hesitate to re-sign him, but believing he could benefit in a different defensive system will probably be the leading reason for Uche to test the market and hope to sign with another team for 2024.
Mike Gesicki
It has been a tough road in New England trying to put together a duo of game-changing tight ends again since the glorious season with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2011. But it's also not been easy for Belichick to find just one reliable guy at the position since the "retirement" of Gronk in 2019.
It seems like they found the right guy for the job in Hunter Henry, who had a career year in 2021 and appeared back on that track this season after a forgettable 2022. Because his performance this year remained questionable, Mike Gesicki was signed to complement Henry and open up the field a bit, which was deemed an under-the-radar good addition this summer.
He wasn't brought in as a typical tight end, as he was known to be a poor blocker and more of a jumbo tight end. Henry would handle the blocking part of the job, and Gesicki would presumably be used as a big red zone target.
Unfortunately, that hasn't come to fruition and looks like another poor roster decision for an offense in dire need of help.
Because this upcoming offseason feels like it will be one of the more pivotal years in the Patriots franchise history, with a possible complete teardown from coaching to the roster, Gesicki doesn't seem like a lock to be re-signed for 2024.
Trent Brown
Trent Brown is another example of a player who has been incredibly productive this season and should remain with the team before heading to free agency in a few months. As the best offensive lineman on the roster by far, re-signing the left tackle should be a priority this offseason, especially since the line has been one of the weakest parts of the offense.
However, considering some comments Brown has made during this season makes it fair to assume he's not entirely happy with the team and could look to go to another if given the chance.
He's been outspoken about his displeasure with how the media handles things since he was the subject of an unflattering rumor that he took offense to and called out the reporter for publishing it. Brown was also candid with his feelings regarding Malik Cunningham's tenure with the Patriots and his lack of given opportunities before the quarterback ultimately decided to sign with the Ravens earlier this month.
If any of that is an indication of how he views the team right now, there's reason to believe he will look at his options in free agency. It may not be the ideal scenario for Brown, who hasn't been successful elsewhere in the league, but if his frustrations have built up this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see if another team will bring him in on a good contract.
Mac Jones
He may not take the field again this year, but when looking at how the season has progressed for Mac Jones, we may not see the quarterback in a Patriots uniform in 2024. Whether it be via trade or waiving, or perhaps permanent benching, it looks like Jones has lost his job permanently in New England.
Although his circumstances since being drafted in 2021 haven't been the fairest for a rookie quarterback, some would argue Jones has been given plenty of chances to demonstrate the type of player he can be for the team and has proven the opposite one too many times, hence his four benchings this season.
Because of that, unless his performance completes a 180-degree turnaround during the offseason and training camp, Jones's days as the QB1 look long over. It will be solidified even more if/when the Patriots take a quarterback with their first-round pick in the upcoming draft, the ultimate sign that Jones just ain't the guy.
Whether it's fair or not is an argument that will continue until the end of time, as both sides can be heavily considered more factual. However, all signs point to a shakeup in the quarterback room this offseason, and the guy who will be under center in 2024 is not on the team right now, and that, unfortunately, includes Jones.