Patriots: Players who are playing their last year for the team in 2023
Depending on how the 2023 season goes, the 2024 offseason might be a huge period of transition for the Patriots, who may part with a few veteran players. The NFL is a business at the end of the day, and for varying reasons, players can find themselves off of their current teams.
The Patriots don't appear to be in a great position for the 2023 season, but it does seem better than last year. With new additions on offense and a new offensive coordinator, the Patriots could bounce back and return from their 2021 form.
It's never too early to look forward to the future, so let's do that and predict three players who are entering their last year with the team.
Patriots: Players who are playing their last year for the team in 2023
Trent Brown, OT
Trent Brown is entering the last year of his deal with the New England Patriots and part of me just does not think that the team is going to extend another contract to Brown, who struggled quite a bit at left tackle in 2022.
Brown is a right tackle and if they want to get the best out of him, they should move him back there and perhaps start Riley Reiff at left tackle for 2023.
Kendrick Bourne
Kendrick Bourne is also entering the last year of his deal and is coming off of a weird 2022 campaign where he seemed to be put in the doghouse by former de-facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia. He was quite good in his first year with the team in 2021.
Bourne is a good receiver and should have a moderate role in the offense, I think the two sides are likely over each other. If Bourne survives the offseason and makes the roster, I would expect him to depart for another team after the season.
It's not Bourne's fault, but it just feels like the two sides will move on from each other soon.
Mac Jones
Here is a hot take, potentially. Mac Jones sprung onto the scene in 2021 as a rookie and helped command a top 10 scoring offense en route to a 10-7 record and a berth in the playoffs.
His 2022 season was one to forget, and now Jones is perhaps entering the most crucial football year of his career. I am not banking on him playing well enough to solidify the starting job for the Patriots, and his relationship with Bill Belichick appears to be shaky at best, so that's something to monitor as well.
Unless Mac Jones takes a huge leap forward, I think the Patriots go in a different direction.