Potential New England Patriots Award Winners in 2024

Even in a poor season, there are always reasons to celebrate. New England finished 4-13 in 2023. That fact did not stop Patriots Football Now from handing out the first annual New England Patriots Awards. The Patriots franchise only gives out one individual award each season. It is the Ron Burton Community Service Award, which was given to Brenden Schooler this season. PFN gives out nine more awards to make it an even ten.

Below are my predictions for the 2024 award winners. Admittedly, predicting winners for awards that I will ultimately choose the winner of might be an unfair advantage in forecasting. But giving the honor to the correct recipient means more than my preseason predictions proving accurate. These players will need to earn the awards on their own.

Also, at least one of the awards will not be decided by me this season, perhaps two. A fan vote was recommended by a few of my nephews who strongly disagreed with last year’s winner for Play of the Year. Without further ado, the predictions for the 2024 New England Patriots Awards:

Also Read – Predictions for NFL Honors: Award Winners and Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Tom Brady Award (MVP)

2003 Winner: Jahlani Tavai
2024 Prediction: Marcus Jones

I’m using the 2023 winners to help me project who will win in 2024. A year ago, the idea that Jahlani Tavai would be the Most Valuable Player on the Patriots seemed far-fetched. However, he earned the honor with his play. By season’s end, Tavai was a Pro Bowl snub nobody even discussed as a snub. He contributed on special teams as well.

Marcus Jones could have a similar path in 2024.  Jones could become an important contributor as New England’s slot cornerback. He was an All-Pro return specialist as a rookie in 2022. After missing most of 2023, he will be back and is adding kickoff return duties this season. The Patriots can also use Marcus Jones on offense, where he flashed in limited opportunities two years ago. This might seem like a long shot now, but a productive triple threat will be tough to ignore.

Patriots PICK SIX! @MarcusJonesocho with a huge steal in NE 😱

📺: #CINvsNE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/12iaSiFKaP pic.twitter.com/yvao9pSGGx

— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022

Bill Belichick Award (Coach of the Year)

2003 Winner: Jerod Mayo
2024 Prediction: Jeremy Springer

Jerod Mayo did a great job helping to lead the New England Patriots defensive unit in 2023. He got promoted to head coach at season’s end. While I don’t expect this season’s Bill Belichick Award winner to parlay it into a head coaching position, I do think it will go to the coach of a unit that excels. The defensive coaches are now expected to put a competitive unit on the field, making it tough for them to win the award. New England’s offense will need to surprise a lot of people for somebody on that side of the ball to garner consideration. So that leaves special teams.

Jeremy Springer enters his first year in New England and his first as a special teams coordinator. The unit struggled the past few seasons under Cameron Achord. Springer has Marcus Jones back, a new kicker in Joey Slye, and new kickoff rules to deal with. If the special teams unit makes a major leap in 2024 it will lead to more wins than many expect, and Springer will be a worthy winner of this award.

1-on-1 with new ST coordinator, Jeremy Springer. pic.twitter.com/rQ6FQ2drsO

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 16, 2024

John Hannah Award (Offensive Player of the Year)

2003 Winner: Mike Onwenu
2024 Prediction: DeMario Douglas

With all due respect to Onwenu, it is never a good sign when an offensive lineman wins Offensive Player of the Year, even when that award is named after Hall of Fame offensive guard John Hannah. This year, there should be a few more candidates from skill positions on the Patriots. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson should have a big year as the featured back for New England, but the nod here goes to DeMario Douglas.

Douglas enters the 2024 season as the one Patriots receiver who appears capable of consistently getting open and catching the football. New England hopes some of their new additions (i.e., Ja’Lynn Polk) fit into this category as well, and they very well might. But with the need for Patriots quarterbacks to get rid of the football quickly, Douglas will be a high-volume receiver this season. He can also make the sophomore leap, as seen by many stud receivers before him. DeMario Douglas catching close to 100 passes and having his first 1,000-yard season in the NFL is not as improbable as some may believe. Improved QB play in New England won’t hurt his cause either.

Demario DEEP 😮‍💨@baileyzappe04 | @popshotta3

📺: NFLN pic.twitter.com/jBFww0eWoV

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 25, 2023

Andre Tippett Award (Defensive Player of the Year)

2003 Winner: Christian Barmore
2024 Prediction: Christian Gonzalez

Barmore is unlikely to repeat as the Tippett Award winner. He begins the season on PUP and is rumored to be in jeopardy of missing the entire 2024 season. Had he remained healthy, Barmore would likely have been the pick here once again.

There are a few intriguing options in New England. As with DeMario Douglas, a second-year leap in production is expected from Keion White this season. The defensive end has a chance to become a force for the defense. Safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers will contend for this honor as well, assuming both continue their stellar play. The prediction is Gonzalez though. His preseason was not outstanding, but his 2023 performance was, before his season-ending injury. He showed in a small sampling that he is ready to compete with the best wideouts in the NFL. If his performance is similar in 2024, but he remains on the field, Gonzalez will be tough not to give the nod to.

Christian Gonzalez Year 2 breakout? In limited action last season:

🔴 79.3 coverage grade
🔵 71.3 run defense grade
🔴 0 TDs allowed
🔵 3 forced incompletions
🔴 67.5 passer rating allowed pic.twitter.com/xcMeG1xXRV

— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots) September 4, 2024

Matthew Slater Award (Special Teams Player of the Year)

2003 Winner: Brenden Schooler
2024 Prediction: Bryce Baringer

The New England Patriots have at least three elite candidates to choose from here. Schooler was the winner last season and could easily repeat. Marcus Jones was an All-Pro punt returner in 2022 and should have plenty of opportunities to impress in 2024. However, punter Bryce Baringer gets the preseason vote here. Baringer possesses a powerful leg and has been working to improve on pinning opponents deep inside their territory. If his net average improves due to fewer touchbacks, the Patriots punter could be one of the team’s most valuable weapons and a potential Pro Bowl selection.

64-yard punt. Inside the five.

Take a bow, Bryce Baringer 🔥

📺: #PHIvsNE on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1rNZPc9SaA

— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2024

Mike Haynes Award (Rookie of the Year)

2003 Winner: DeMario Douglas
2024 Prediction: Layden Robinson

There are ten rookies on the New England Patriots roster. But only two appear ready to see significant playing time in Week 1. Of course, it is a long season, and things can (and will) change. But playing the odds narrows the options down to those two: WR Ja’Lynn Polk and OG Layden Robinson.

Polk is capable of a monster season, but there are only so many yards to go around for an offense that might struggle for stretches in 2024. An offensive guard like Robinson has an easier transition than some other positions to the NFL. He also lines up between productive veterans David Andrews (center) and Mike Onwenu (right tackle). This is a bit of a blind pick. Robinson impressed for much of training camp, though he did not play with the first unit at right guard often. When he was with the starters, it was often rotating with Sidy Sow on the left side. But Robinson is capable and played right guard throughout his college career at Texas A&M. I expect him to be solid, which should be enough to earn the honor here.

Layden, meet Coach Jerod 📞

📺: #PatsDraft on NFLN pic.twitter.com/7M01AFY3uy

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 27, 2024

Gino Cappelletti Award (Unsung Hero)

2003 Winner: Anfernee Jennings
2024 Prediction: Hunter Henry

This award is tough to predict. It needs to go to a player who performs well while not necessarily receiving the credit from fans and media, broadly speaking, for how well they performed. Anfernee Jennings was one of several worthy candidates a year ago. Jahlani Tavai could easily have won the award as well, though I found it difficult to justify calling Tavai unsung at the same time he was receiving the Brady Award as Patriots MVP.

Hunter Henry could fit that mold this season. He has flown under the radar a bit in his Patriots tenure, despite being a solid player. The offensive coaching staff turnover could benefit Henry as much as anyone. In Cleveland last season, they helped tight end David Njoku earn a Pro Bowl nod. If the offense is more productive than expected, Brissett, Stevenson, and Douglas will likely get a lot of attention, though it is unlikely to happen without a solid season from Henry.

To make this catch on 4th and 8 😳

📺: #PHIvsNE on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/G4uoYVOqQn pic.twitter.com/OhiwJP7Ced

— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2023

Vince Wilfork Award (Fan Favorite)

2003 Winner: Jabrill Peppers
2024 Prediction: Marcus Jones

Peppers was a deserving winner a year ago. He was both good and entertaining. Those are two qualities needed in a fan favorite. Although it’s nice to spread out the hardware, it’s hard to envision a player as exciting as Marcus Jones winning the Most Valuable Player Award for New England and not becoming the fan favorite.

This is one of the awards that might get decided by a fan vote in 2024 (possibly by PFN+ Subscribers). I was also told the name might need to change to the Gronkowski-Wilfork Award. Perhaps that will go to a vote as well.

Adam Vinatieri Award (Play of the Year)

2003 Winner: Mac Jones and Mike Gesicki
2024 Prediction: Voted on by PFN Subscribers

This one is going to be left up to a vote in 2024. I chose the New England Patriots game-winning touchdown pass from Mac Jones to Mike Gesicki to beat the Buffalo Bills. But my nephews thought Brenden Schooler’s blocked field goal or Jalen Reagor’s kickoff return touchdown should have won. This year, I’ll come up with the candidates but let PFN+ subscribers decide on the winner. (Note: Add code “KELLEY” to get $10 off an annual PFN+ membership). It appears I value plays that lead to a win more than just a spectacular individual effort. But Patriots Football Now is not a dictatorship, so I’ll open this one up for voting, even if Schooler doesn’t win the 2023 award retroactively.

You only got “it was a running start” analysis on the broadcast…I wish they would have better explained how this worked, so allow me…

1. Watch Schooler’s eyes. He’s not timing the snap…he’s timing the *kicker’s sequence*. They should have shown replays of that!!!…you can bet… pic.twitter.com/uJli2EaSyA

— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) September 18, 2023