Among the many storylines for the Patriots this upcoming season is the number of players expected to hit free agency next offseason, particularly more than a handful who have become integral parts of their success over the last few years.
Most of the most crucial players to keep will be on the defense, which has been the better part of the team and is expected to continue reigning supreme in 2024. Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf need to prioritize extending many of these players as soon as possible or risk losing them and resetting their dominant defense.
Based on how the new regime has already handled free agency and the draft this year, it's fair to assume they're more inclined to get these extensions done than Bill Belichick would have, which is certainly a relief.
At least six players should be given the utmost importance in re-signing, as losing them would be a critical hit to the team's potential in the years ahead.
6 important Patriots entering their last season in New England
Davon Godchaux
One of the more underrated and underappreciated players on the Patriots' defense is Davon Godchaux. Perhaps it's because he plays a position that doesn't get much attention from analysts or fans, but he's been as solid as they come since signing with the team three years ago.
One of the best things about the nose tackle has been his reliability. He hasn't missed a single game since his arrival and has become an anchor of the defense because of that.
Godchaux came to the team at the right time and has thrived as the team's leading run defender, a weak part of the team in the years leading to his signing. His natural ability to do his job the right way and at a high level often goes unnoticed despite his performances, creating opportunities for his teammates to make plays.
He has consistently played at a high level, even if the stat sheet doesn't seem to back that up. But what he does on the field, essentially becoming an offensive lineman's worst nightmare due to being an immovable defender, makes him even more critical for the roster.
If the Patriots intend to keep a high-performing defense, retaining Godchaux should be a priority. It's not easy to find a high-caliber nose tackle in the league, so when you have one that often plays similarly to a Patriots legend, you should keep him around.
Matthew Judon
Of a list compiled of important players expected to hit free agency in 2025, Matthew Judon might be the single most important player to have helped lead their defense to high success over the last three years, which might be the most significant reason to sign him to an extension.
Judon was signed during Bill Belichick's spending spree during the 2021 offseason and quickly became one of his career's best free agent signings. He was an exciting addition and was expected to be a big part of the effort to improve the pass rush, but he has gone on to do that and then some, including earning a spot in the Patriots' history books.
Although his contributions to the team were more than evident, seeing the pass rush fall apart in Judon's absence after his season-ending injury last year stressed his importance to the defense.
It's a big reason why the Patriots would be foolish not to retain him for the foreseeable future, even more so since he's already stated he would like to retire with the team.
Besides his in-game performances, he's also been an important mentor to the younger players around him, which we saw the results of with Joshua Uche during the 2022 season. It's not easy to find players with a natural ability to lead, so Judon fitting that role makes him invaluable for the team.
It would be ideal to negotiate an extension before the 2024 season begins. Judon held out during the summer last year until his contract was reworked. Money was taken from his salary this year to pay him for the 2023 season, so he will likely hold out again during the next few months.
There's no reason for the Patriots to even entertain letting him walk. Judon has become the face of the defense, and it would be an utter disaster not to keep him around long-term.
Jabrill Peppers
It's tough to argue against the idea that Jabrill Peppers has become one of the cornerstones of the Patriots' defense over the last two seasons. He had always been considered a solid player throughout his career but has really come alive since arriving in New England.
The 2023 season was awe-inspiring, as Peppers hauled in two interceptions, returned for 34 yards, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and recorded 78 combined tackles, the most he's had since 2020.
His performance made for many memorable moments for an otherwise forgettable season, and the expectation is he will continue that in the season ahead.
On top of what he's brought to the field, Peppers also found a leadership role that suits him, a new aspect of his career. He's always been a vocal player and has found comfort in guiding those around him on and off the field, which his teammates inevitably benefit from.
Because he fits the type of player the Patriots love to have on their defense and contributes more to the team than just his on-field performance, retaining Peppers beyond the upcoming season is a must.
Since signing with the team two years ago, he has already earned a new contract, and he's done more than enough to prove he should have an even longer stay in Foxboro.
Brenden Schooler
Special teams players are not often considered an important part of any NFL roster, but on a team that values the performance of the third unit, it's crucial to keep a player like Brenden Schooler for as long as he plays at a high level.
The decision by Bill Belichick to move on from Justin Bethel and keep Schooler during his rookie season was questionable at the time, but he became Matthew Slater's protégé and has played that part well in the years since.
His tough style has made for many flashy moments during his young career, and his determination to make big plays resembles some of the Patriots' best special teams units in years past. With a new special teams coordinator in the mix, plus Slater's new role as a member of Jerod Mayo's staff, Schooler is in good hands to continue rising among the best special teams in the league.
He already proved to be well on his way by earning All-Pro honors for his performance throughout the 2023 season. He's become the latest undrafted success story for the Patriots and hopefully that will continue beyond the upcoming season.
The three-year veteran already shared his desire to take on more of a leadership role, and now that he's the face of the unit, he can share all the wisdom Slater bestowed upon him and his tenacious attitude with his teammates to bring back a solid third unit that the Patriots were once known for.
Rhamondre Stevenson
Playing running back in the NFL is not easy, not just because of the job at hand but also because general managers are reluctant to sign players to extensions after their rookie contracts. They tend not to value the position and don't want to play players for what they're worth, which has become a hot and controversial topic in recent years.
That could be an issue for Rhamondre Stevenson, who is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career next offseason. He will be one of the headliners of a class otherwise led by Nick Chubb, James Conner, and Aaron Jones, all of whom will also be looking for their paydays.
That could work in Stevenson's favor, on top of Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf's desire to draft and develop talent for the team moving forward. Since he is a homegrown talent, hopefully, that will be enough for the new regime to consider offering a contract extension.
Stevenson has done more than enough to earn a longer stay in Foxboro and is expected to prove that further this upcoming season.
Although his NFL career didn't start smoothly, he quickly earned Bill Belichick's trust and seemingly stole the starting role from Damien Harris. It was a done deal once he trained and integrated more of the passing game into his repertoire. Stevenson became the go-to guy in the backfield and hasn't looked back since.
He's become a valuable asset on the offense and will continue to be that when Drake Maye takes over under center. That's just one of the reasons it would be a mistake for the team to let Stevenson walk in free agency, and it would be best if they avoided that.
Jahlani Tavai
Perhaps the most under-the-radar player deserving of a new contract has to be Jahlani Tavai. He was a questioned addition to the team at the beginning, as most believed he was a Matt Patricia favorite from their days with the Lions.
But he has since become a sneaky good piece of the defense with the look of a player on the rise after having the best season of his five year career in 2023. In nearly every metric, Tavai doubled his production from his previous impressive season in 2022, and could build upon that in the season ahead.
He took advantage of the opportunities given to him last year, especially after Matthew Judon was sidelined with an injury, which allowed him to fill the stat sheet with a long list of accomplishments.
Tavai recorded 110 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss, four quarterback hits, two interceptions, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a sack.
It was a totally unexpected year for the linebacker, but it's easily made him one of the top players to watch this upcoming season. If he can continue down the path he started, whether by repeating last year's performance or adding even more to it, extending his stay in New England makes a lot of sense.