A new head coach, a second-year quarterback primed for stardom and a strong 2025 NFL Draft class may be the winning ingredients to cook up a playoff run for the New England Patriots in the 2025 NFL season.
After a 4-12 season and a last place finish in the AFC East, the once dominant division kings have been looking for ways to find that shine again after the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick-era came to an end. Can Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye create their own era in Foxborough?
If you are a betting NFL fan, what the Patriots have done in the offseason could put the team in position to make a quick turn-a-round, especially if the 2025 NFL Draft class hits along with the veteran free agent signings who were brought into both solidify the defense and tweak the offensive line.
Patriots have the tools to be very good in 2025
In all, the Patriots finding a winning formula in 2025 and making the players is a wager worth investing in says CBS writer Tyler Sullivan, who has the Patriots making the playoffs as one of his 10 NFL future bets to make right now. With a +148 per BetRivers Sportsbook, Sullivan notes key additions Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane and Stefon Diggs as key additions, but it is the draft class that may get the Patriots back to the promise land or at least back on the right path.
He writes:
“The Patriots have completely overhauled their organization over the last seven months. The club hired Mike Vrabel as its newest head coach and made strides to improve the roster this offseason. In free agency, the club doubled down on its strength defensively with the likes of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane. It also added right tackle Morgan Moses and wideout Stefon Diggs to bolster the offense. In the 2025 NFL Daft, Will Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick, should serve as a Day 1 starter at left tackle. Meanwhile, Day 2 picks TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams both have promise of contributing early in their careers as well.”
More on the New England Patriots draft at NFL Mocks:
While there are other key factors to the Patriots potentially putting together a 10-plus win season like their schedule and the potential breakout stardom of Maye, the top draft picks Sullivan spotlights could all play major roles in making the Patriots once again a factor in the AFC. Let’s run down the significance of each player:
- Will Campbell, LT: One key ingredient to Maye becoming a top gunslinger in the NFL is the offensive line. Can the Patriots give him time to throw? The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Will Campbell has the skillset and attitude to be that guy (short arms and all). In hopefully solidifying the left side of the line, the Patriots could have a solid O-line in the making with Morgan Moses holding it down at right tackles, Cole Strange and Mike Owenu at guard and Garrett Bradbury at center. That also gives the O-line some depth with Vederian Lowe, Layden Robinson, Jared Wilson, Sidy Sow and Caedan Wallace all players who can step in as starters if any of those players go down.
- TreVeyon Henderson, RB: The Ohio State product gives the Patriots an explosive playmaker who can create big plays whether he is running the ball or catching the ball out of the backfield. With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels back on board, expect the Patriots to use Henderson in multiple ways. He will also form an interesting duo with Rhamondre Stevenson. This thunder and lightning duo could have a similar impact as Henderson had when he teamed with Quinshon Judkins at Ohio State. The success of the running game makes Maye that more dangerous.
- Kyle Williams, WR: The Patriots double dipped at receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft. Neither Ja’Lynn Polk nor Javon Baker were able to solve the wide receiver issue which led to the team turning to the draft again with the selection of Kyle Williams. Like Henderson, Williams is a player who is a big play waiting to happen and McDaniels will find ways to get the ball in his hand whether that is in the short passing, screen game or with Maye taking shots down the field. The addition of Stefon Diggs will help Williams along with that big arm talent of Maye. If the Patriots finally have that burner down the field who can catch the ball, the offense becomes that much more versatile and unpredictable.