Heading into a new season, every NFL roster is far from a done deal, no matter how tenured a player might be. No player is ever considered safe and many need to do all they can to prove why they should keep their roster spot for the season ahead.
The Patriots are in that position times a hundred this year as they go through significant changes from top to bottom. Plenty of holes on the team need to be filled, and players whose jobs are not safe after how poorly they performed a year ago.
At least five players will need to prove they're first worthy of making the 2024 roster, and when/if they do, some will need to show they deserve a new contract or to keep their spot moving forward.
5 Patriots with the most to prove in during the 2024 season
Joshua Uche
The 2022 season was one for the books for Joshua Uche, whose third season was kicked into high gear and made him the perfect partner for Matthew Judon in the pass rush game.
After recording just four sacks, 21 combined tackles, five for a loss, and 11 quarterback hits in his first two years, he put together an impressive season that blew the first years out of the water. Uche recorded 27 combined tackles, nine for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and 11.5 sacks.
He looked like an entirely different player and finally looked like the guy Bill Belichick hoped he would be.
There was an expectation that Uche would build upon his standout year in 2023, but he reverted to his forgettable first years in New England, which led Belichick to nearly trade him right before the deadline.
Because of that, he looked like he'd be on the way out in free agency this offseason, but with Jerod Mayo in control and Belichick out, he was seemingly given a prove-it, one-year contract for the 2024 season and will need to demonstrate he can be the productive player we saw two years ago.
Rhamondre Stevenson
Unlike some others on the list, Rhamondre Stevenson doesn't have much to prove from a production standpoint; he has to prove why he deserves a contract extension to stay with the Patriots beyond the 2024 season.
Since being drafted in 2021, he has risen the ranks and quickly earned the lead role in the backfield, bumping Damien Harris out. His dedication to becoming a dual-threat running back helped accomplish that feat, as he has become even better on the ground and a solid weapon in the passing game.
Stevenson was on the path to having the best statistical season of his career last year but suffered a season-ending injury after 12 games. He's expected to pick up where he left off this fall and it couldn't come at a better time.
Because the Patriots didn't draft a running back this year, that might be an indication of their plan to focus on Stevenson now and in the future. If he can put together another impressive season, there's no reason to believe that Eliot Wolf won't want to retain him with a new contract.
Although there is a narrative that teams don't like to keep running backs beyond their rookie contracts, which seemed to be proven this offseason, Stevenson has stated he wants to stay on the team and hasn't looked to slow down whatsoever.
Given his talent, he might fetch a hefty contract, but New England is loaded with cap space next year, allowing them to afford it.
It would be ideal to keep an integral piece of the offense for more years to maintain fluidity within the team, even more so whenever Drake Maye becomes the quarterback.
Cole Strange
The selection of Cole Strange in the first round of the 2022 draft became a laughingstock across the league. It wasn't because the Patriots took a guard with their first pick of the weekend; it was the decision to take Strange, who was widely projected to go far later in the draft.
On the surface, it felt like a questionable decision but sensical given the Patriots need on the offensive line. And once Strange got into a groove during his rookie year, it seemed like New England put the doubters to shame.
But that didn't last long, as Strange's production fell as the season progressed. He became more inconsistent and lacked proper protection on Mac Jones, ultimately allowing five sacks, 17 hurries, and 23 hits on the quarterback.
His performance worsened in 2023, with the guard's stats ending nearly identical to the previous year. But what makes it even worse is that he played in seven fewer games, and his season ended due to injury after playing in ten games for the year.
Besides his performance seemingly making 2024 a prove-it year for Strange, the Patriots also drafted two offensive linemen last month, including a guard who is expected to play on the left side. It seems the new regime is not all too trusting of Strange's performance, and now he will need to fight to keep his job this summer.
Chad Ryland
Likely the most obvious name of all, kicker Chad Ryland will need a stellar training camp and preseason to remain on the Patriots' 53-man roster.
His rookie season last year was certainly memorable, but unfortunately for him and the team, it wasn't for good reason. Despite looking good during the summer, Ryland became a liability on game day, missing nine field goals by the end of the year.
Part of his struggles could be attributed to a problematic special teams unit that performed uncharacteristically poorly all season long.
However, Ryland's production became such an issue that Bill Belichick chose to keep an even worse offense on the field on fourth downs instead of having the kicker line up for a field goal. It left a lot of potential points off the board because he couldn't be trusted, no matter where he would be kicking from.
It was clear his confidence was shaken during the season, and hopefully, for his sake, he will be in a better mindset this summer to unanimously keep the role as the team's kicker. The Patriots didn't draft one this year, but they did sign free agent kicker Joey Slye to put Ryland in the hot seat.
Tyquan Thornton
The Patriots receiving corps, in general, will have a lot to prove in the months leading to the 2024 season but a lot of that pressure will be on Tyquan Thornton, who has had two uninspiring seasons since the team drafted him.
He was immediately labeled a reach by Bill Belichick, who traded up to draft him, yet his quickness and contested catch abilities made him a valuable asset for the offense at the time. Thornton had a role as soon as he joined the team, but a broken collarbone in the offseason pushed his rookie debut back unexpectedly.
Once he hit the field, he had a few impressive games that made him look worth the effort to draft him. The game against the Browns has become his most memorable game, in which he recorded a receiving and rushing touchdown to help give the Patriots the win.
That performance broke a record long held by Deion Branch, but he couldn't keep that production going for the rest of the 2022 season or last year either. He started 2023 on injured reserve again, dealing with another injury that gave him a second unfortunate start to the season.
Thornton took the field for nine games last season and partially fell victim to an inept offense, which kept him out of the receiver rotation. He recorded just 13 receptions for 91 yards to bring his career totals to 35 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns.
With a crowded receiver room heading into the summer, Thornton must find a way to stand out and prove he is worth keeping a spot on the team. He will have stiff competition, with Kendrick Bourne and DeMario Douglas in the lineup, on top of the two rookies drafted last month, Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk.