Top Ten Players on the 2024 New England Patriots
By Pete Collins
2024 Season: Top Ten Players on the New England Patriots as ranked by Pete Collins @Pete_Collins_ on X.
EDGE Matthew Judon
This year Matthew Judon should have another standout, Pro-Bowl caliber season. His combination of speed and power off the edge makes him a serious threat to opposing quarterbacks, add in a contract year… watch out. In 2022 he sacked the quarterback 15.5 times and last year he played in only four games and still had four sacks. Judon turns 32 on August 15 and will be 33 when he starts his next contact. This may explain why the Patriots have hesitated to extend him, that, and him coming off a season-ending bicep injury. When Judon is healthy, his disruptive playmaking skills make him a force to be reckoned with.
S Jabrill Peppers
I expect Jabrill Peppers to be a key contributor to the New England Patriots' defensive success, especially considering the 2024 season is the final year of Peppers' contract. Peppers was a top player for this defense last year and deservedly received an 87.3 Overall PFF grade. Best in run support, he totaled 78 tackles (4th on the team) in 15 games. He hits big and makes big plays forcing Jalen Hurts to fumble, and leveled Davante Adams causing a pick to name a few. His speed, tackling, and coverage skills should make him a fun player to watch this year.
DL Christian Barmore
Christian Barmore took a huge step forward last year and should continue to be a pivotal player for the New England Patriots in the 2024 season. As a defensive lineman, Barmore possesses impressive athleticism, strength, and instincts that allow him to stay on the field every down if the coach desires. His unique ability to rush from the middle makes him a disruptive force for interior offensive linemen to deal with. Barmore sacked the QB 8.5 times last year, with 5.5 sacks coming in the final seven weeks. He did this in the absence of Judon, so he is only going to rise in production as defenses have to focus on, who I believe to be, our best player. Barmore should pick up exactly where he left off as he looks to leave his mark on the league.
TE Hunter Henry
Hunter Henry was my wayyy too early pick for offensive player of the year on episode 31 of the Foxborough Fellas Podcast. As a tight end, Henry brings a valuable combination of receiving ability and blocking skills to the position. Henry hauled in 419 receiving yards for six touchdowns on 42 receptions last year. Henry does his work in the Red Zone as he was targeted 9 times and caught 5 touchdowns last year. With a definite upgrade at quarterback, Henry could return to his former self who caught nine touchdowns on 50 receptions in 2021. Henry, If he can stay healthy and maintain his level of performance, is poised to be a key piece of the Patriots' passing game this upcoming season.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson was Mike D’Abate and my wise co-host, Divij’s pick for offensive player of the year and I see no fault in this pick whatsoever. Stevenson has shown a combination of power, speed, and agility throughout his career. Stevenson played all 17 games in 2022, was a 1K rusher, and was great catching out of the backfield; bringing in an impressive 69 receptions that year. Last year he was limited to 12 games and saw his YPC drop by a whole yard. With a physical running style and playmaking ability, Rhamondre Stevenson should bounce back and make a significant impact this year, especially considering Alex Van Pelt's outside zone run schemes. Vegas has his TD over/under at 4.5 which is fair considering past production (career average 4.6 TDs per season), but I expect that over to hit if he can play 14+ games.
WR Demario Douglas
DeMario Douglas had a promising rookie year at wide receiver for the New England Patriots leading all receivers in yards with 561, which should not be a number that leads any team, but I digress. Better known as “Pop”, he certainly showed flashes of his speed, precise route running, and reliable hands earning a 74.4 PFF grade. With a year of experience and the opportunity to further develop his skills, there's optimism that DeMario Douglas could continue as a key target in the Patriots' passing game throughout the 2024 season.
DB Christian Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez is only this far down on the list as we have only seen him play in less than four NFL games. In those games, he had a solid performance in man coverage against some talented wide receivers: AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Tyreek Hill, and Garrett Wilson. Agent Zero even got to Jalen Hurts in the backfield in week one and earned an 80.8 overall PFF grade in the four weeks he played. As he continues to develop his skills and gain experience, there's optimism that Christian Gonzalez can be a lockdown corner for years to come, starting in 2024.
C David Andrews
David Andrews is a crucial part of the New England Patriots’ offensive line as the team's starting center, and the team as a whole, as captain. Andrews brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the field which is donning many young players, including two offensive linemen: Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson drafted in this year’s draft. Andrew’s ability to read defenses, make adjustments, and anchor the offensive line will be instrumental in 2024 and 2025. Andrews' consistency and reliability make him a key player to watch as the Patriots look to build.
LB Jahlani Tavai
Jahlani Tavai had an amazing 2023 and earned himself a spot on this list and a contract extension which was recently announced. Tavai demonstrated strong tackling ability recording 110 tackles which was good for second on the team, behind Bentley, and 42nd in the NFL. He received an 86.6 overall grade in 2023 from PFF which was a nod to his rush defense and pass coverage skills. His skill set and experience should make him a valuable asset to the Patriots' 2024 defensive approach.
WR Kendrick Bourne
Kendrick Bourne on this team is potentially the best wideout; on a good offense, he would be an acceptable WR2 and a good WR3. He finished the 2023 season with 406 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns on 37 receptions but only played in 8 games due to injury. Let’s pretend that he had similar stats in the second half of 2023 and he didn't get hurt. He would have had around 80 catches for 825 yards and 8 TDs. I would love that production out of him, but he is likely to miss time at the start of the 2024 season which is why he is 10 on this list. Keep an eye on Kendrick Bourne as he aims to make his mark in the upcoming season.
Bubble Players: OL Mike Onwenu; LB Ja’Wuah Bentley; QB Drake Maye; S Kyle Dugger