Top 5 Patriots With Something to Prove in the Final Games of 2024

The New England Patriots have three games remaining in their 2024 season. They play the Buffalo Bills on the road this weekend, followed by home games against the Chargers and Bills to wrap up the year. New England’s 3-11 record gives very little indication that these games matter, but they do.

For some fans, the primary concern with the outcomes of these games is where the Patriots will select in the 2025 NFL Draft. In theory, New England can still land anywhere from No. 1 to No. 15 in the draft order, depending on how the last three games go. If the season ended today, they’d draft third.

But there is more at stake for the people in Patriots headquarters than draft position. A strong finish can help the team and their fans feel good about themselves heading into 2025. From an individual perspective, strong showings can help save jobs or earn new contracts. So, while the outcomes of these games will not determine whether the Patriots play in the postseason (the won’t) they do matter.

Also Read – Kelley: Does Jerod Mayo Keep Clarifying or Backtracking?

With that in mind, a look at the Top 5 Patriots with something to prove in the final games of 2024:

5. New England Patriots Free Agents

The Patriots have several key players set to become unrestricted free agents after the season. Based on the number of extensions Eliot Wolf gave out to players in similar situations, those still without a contract for 2025 have something to prove. Even if New England does not plan to retain them, they can show the rest of the league what they can do.

Some longtime New England veterans, like Jonathan Jones and Deatrich Wise Jr., might prefer to stay put with the Patriots and remain a one-franchise player. Playing well down the stretch can help that to happen. Other veterans need to show they can still produce to entice interest from any NFL franchise in 2025. That group includes Daniel Ekuale, JaMycal Hasty, Jaylinn Hawkins, Yannick Ngakoue, and Joey Slye.

Three UFAs-to-be are not included here. Oshane Ximines is on injured reserve and Jacoby Brissett is unlikely to play. The third, Austin Hooper, has already proven his worth in 2024. The tight end had a productive season and should receive interest from New England and elsewhere.

4. DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has discussed a second-year leap expected from players many times since taking over. He’s even mentioned taking one as a coach in 2025. New England received second-year jumps out of 2023 rookies Christian Gonzalez and Keion White, to varying degrees. It would be beneficial for the second-year wide receivers to show the same.

Douglas might be punished here by having enjoyed a solid rookie season. He finished with 49 receptions for 561 yards in 14 games. Through 14 games this season, Douglas has 55 receptions for 508 yards and his first two touchdowns. It might constitute a small step forward, but certainly not a leap.

Boutte finished his rookie season with two receptions for 19 yards. So, his totals this season (27 receptions, 349 yards, one touchdown) could be classified as a leap in production. However, Kayshon Boutte has yet to have a game with five receptions or 60 yards receiving. His bobble against Arizona turned into an interception, which he seemed to blame his quarterback for afterward. A strong showing down the stretch for Boutte would give the team and the fans a much more positive feel about him heading into the offseason.

3. Ben Brown, Demontrey Jacobs, and Vederian Lowe

These three make up 60% of the Patriots starting offensive line. The offensive line has not been a strength of the team, to be polite. New England making major overhauls to this unit is in order. It is certainly expected. Mike Onwenu, whether he plays guard or tackle, is the lone player locked into a roster spot for next season. These players need to put some strong play on tape.

Nobody from this group is likely to start for the New England Patriots in 2025. However, all are under the team’s control. Are they worth keeping around to battle for a reserve role? And if they are not part of the Patriots’ plans, they can show the rest of the NFL what they are capable of? NFL teams are constantly on the hunt for adequate offensive linemen. Even if Brown, Jacobs, and Lowe haven’t shown enough to warrant a starting spot next season, they can still secure an NFL future, perhaps in New England, by playing well down the stretch.

In many ways, despite being under contract for 2025, this group mirrors the pending free agents. They have something to prove and need to find a fan of their games in the NFL universe. The more good tape they produce, the easier that is to do.

2. Ja’Lynn Polk

The entire New England Patriots rookie class, aside from Drake Maye, could be listed here. However, only offensive guard Layden Robinson is expected to see significant time. Polk was a second-round pick in April and has not lived up to expectations. Perhaps expectations for the rookie were too high, but a strong finish to his rookie campaign would serve him well. He needs a confidence boost, and Patriots fans could use something about his performance to feel good about this year.

Polk has 12 receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns to date. That is less productive than previous Patriots rookie wide receivers like Chad Jackson, Bethel Johnson, Aaron Dobson, or N’Keal Harry. Not only do seven wide receivers drafted after Ja’Lynn Polk have more receptions and receiving yards in 2024, two undrafted free agents (Jalen Coker and Mason Tipton) do too.

For everybody’s sake, the franchise, player, and fanbase, a strong finish to 2024 for Ja’Lynn Polk would be beneficial.

1. The Coaching Staff

Would the Patriots clean house after one season of their new regime? That’s tough to imagine. However, it’s also tough to argue the staff, beginning with Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo, have shown enough to warrant a second season. Wolf doesn’t control his fate at this point, aside from some strong rookie play or “good vibes” to end the season. But the coaching staff, to some degree, still does.

If New England finishes the season with a 3-14 record, changes will be made. Will it begin with the de facto general manager and the head coach? Will firings begin at the coordinator level? If so, Alex Van Pelt, DeMarcus Covington, and Jeremy Springer better bring their A-games down the homestretch.

If Mayo gets fired, nobody on the staff is safe. And if Mayo returns, nobody might be safe anyway. If a coordinator is fired, their replacement will want to help pick assistants. Nobody should feel safe. Drake Maye has excelled as a rookie, though many want to see Alex Van Pelt replaced as offensive coordinator. Would that mean losing offensive assistant Ben McAdoo and quarterback coach T.C. McCartney, who have also worked with Maye?

For the units that have struggled, is it coaching or a severe lack of talent? Is Scott Peters a poor offensive line coach, for example, or is the Patriots’ offensive line in such poor shape even Dante Scarnecchia would struggle to make a positive difference?

What is best for the New England Patriots in 2025 and beyond is tough to decipher. This includes making decisions about players, coaches, and management alike. But for those currently working in Patriots headquarters, the best thing to do is perform well for the final three games. Even if it’s too late to save their job in Foxboro, it will help them land their next one.