The 2023 NFL season is here and the New England Patriots are ready to compete. The AFC East is set to be as tight as it ever has been, meaning the margin for error is small if we’re going to avoid missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
The Patriots finished the 2022 campaign with an 8-9 record, but that had a lot to do with injuries and underperformers. Fast forward to 2023 and the roster is healthier with deeper reinforcements than before. There’s no excuse for this team not to be competing for a playoff spot come December.
New England has more than enough talent to get the job done, but that all hinges on everyone playing their part. So, which players will be looked at to guide the ship?
Here are the 15 best Patriots players ranked heading into the 2023 NFL schedule.
15 Best Patriots Players Ranked for 2023
15. Matthew Slater
Special teams players don’t always get the respect that they deserve, so let’s do that for Matthew Slater.
The former 2008 fifth-rounder is entering his 16th NFL season and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. If anything, he continues defying Father Time’s wishes, racking up 10 Pro Bowl appearances while being named All-Pro five times (two first-team, three second-team) since 2011 alone.
Slater is a key cog in the Patriots’ special teams, playing at least 80% of snaps in each of the last three seasons. He’s been productive during that span to the tune of 31 total tackles (13 solo) while also returning seven kicks for 106 yards (15.1 yards per attempt).
Considering how he’s been that solid despite turning 38 before the Patriots even face the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, Slater’s success is even more impressive.
As long as he continues being his usual self, I won’t be shocked if he adds another Pro Bowl or All-Pro appearance to his résumé this season.
14. Jalen Mills
Jalen Mills has become a New England fan favorite despite only spending two seasons with the organization.
After a disappointing 2021 campaign, Mills looked more like himself last season by finishing with 26 solo tackles, five broken-up passes, and two interceptions even though he was limited to 10 games.
Furthermore, he held opposing quarterbacks to a 60.9% completion rate and 83.4 passer rating (compared to 111.4 in 2021) while giving up two touchdown passes after surrendering seven last year.
Fast forward to the upcoming season when Mills will be moving from cornerback to safety following Devin McCourty’s retirement this offseason. Fortunately, the 29-year-old veteran played safety as recently as the 2020 campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles, allowing a 57.6% completion percentage and 82.0 passer rating across 15 games.
There’s a lot of pressure riding on Mills’ shoulders this year. However, if he can prove that he can fill McCourty’s void, he could find himself higher on next year’s rankings.
13. Christian Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez is going to be an integral part of the Patriots’ defense this year. After all, they didn’t use the 17th overall pick in April on the promising CB just for him to rot on the sidelines.
Is placing someone who’s yet to play an NFL game at No. 13 too high? Maybe, but maybe not. After all, Gonzalez has the potential to be an electric defender for years to come.
The Carrollton, TX native was terrific in his final collegiate year, recording 50 tackles, four interceptions (for 118 yards), and seven defended passes across 12 games at Oregon. He was constantly giving signal-callers headaches, proven by his 74.7 QB rating when targeted.
Gonzalez’s performance solidified him as one of the best CBs in college football, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors for his effort.
While some rookies have issues fitting in, that won’t be a problem here. Gonzalez is as versatile as they come, having played at least 73 snaps in the box, corner, and slot last fall, according to Pro Football Focus. I don’t doubt that Bill Belichick will maximize the rookie’s strengths.
Perhaps I’ll regret this ranking at the end of the year. For now, I have a lot of faith in the former Duck.
12. Mac Jones
I had a hard time deciding where to rank Mac Jones on this list.
A quarterback is supposed to, in theory, be his team’s best player, but that wasn’t the case for Jones last year. His 2022 season was the definition of a sophomore slump, leading the Pats to a 6-8 record in 14 starts while throwing for 2,997 yards and 14 TDs with 11 INTs just one year after being named to the Pro Bowl.
While last year’s performance was… unfortunate, to say the least, we know that Jones is capable of better things. Fans shouldn’t forget that he toppled 3,800 yards with 22 TDs as a rookie and with his having just turned 25, I fully believe that he can return to that level.
The Patriots have set Jones up for success this year. While he doesn’t have a weapon as lethal as Randy Moss or Rob Gronkowski like Tom Brady had, he has the following weapons at his disposal:
- JuJu Smith-Schuster
- DeVante Parker
- Kendrick Bourne
- Hunter Henry
- Mike Gesicki
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Ezekiel Elliott
That’s without even mentioning promising rookies like Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. Is it the most elite group? No, but there’s enough talent to the point where there’s zero reason for Jones not to have a bounce-back campaign.
Although this specific ranking is potential-based, I have a good feeling that Jones’ 2023 campaign will justify my decision.
11. JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Patriots had one of the more underwhelming passing attacks last year, finishing with just 3,815 receiving yards — good for 12th-worst in the NFL.
That’s why Belichick did his best to upgrade the wide receiver room in the offseason, which included signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $33 million deal.
Smith-Schuster, a former Pro-Bowler, joins the Patriots following one of his better campaigns that saw him turn 78 catches into 933 yards and three touchdowns across 16 games. As our new No. 1 WR, it’s not unfathomable to imagine him having a 1,000-yard campaign with Mac Jones.
It’s also easy to forget that Smith-Schuster is relatively young despite this season being his seventh. He’s turned 27 in November and while he likely won’t see any major improvements, I still expect him to be a dangerous pass-catcher that opposing defenses must respect.
After all, he did tally two 100-yard performances while finishing with 70-plus yards seven times in 2022.
Although there are reports that his knee “could explode” at any time, I’m not worried as long as Smith-Schuster continues suiting up. His talent outweighs any potential fears which may not even end up coming to fruition.
10. Ja’Whaun Bentley
Ja’Whaun Bentley consistently shows heart every time he steps foot on the gridiron.
The ex-Purdue product’s non-stop motor helped him have a career year last season. He suited up and started in all 17 of the Patriots’ contests, finishing with a personal-best 125 total tackles while also tallying two defended passes, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
The veteran linebacker also put QBs on notice throughout the campaign, recording 51 blitzes, 11 pressures, six hurries, six QB hits, and three sacks. His usefulness in both the run and passing games was crucial to New England only surrendering 105.5 rushing yards (No. 5) and 216.5 passing yards (No.16) per game.
Bentley will be counted upon to be a consistent starter throughout the 2023 slate. He’s already proven that he can do it all and if the Patriots are to make the playoffs, he must do it again.
9. Marcus Jones
It only took Marcus Jones’ rookie year for him to become one of the Patriots’ best players.
Drafted 85th overall in 2022, Jones was one of the league’s best special teamers last year. He led the NFL in both punt return yards (362) and yards per punt return (12.5) while averaging 23.9 return yards on 27 kicks, ultimately leading to first-team All-Pro honors as a 24-year-old.
Jones showed that he knows how to exploit open lanes. His biggest highlight of the season came in Week 10 when he recorded an 84-yard punt return touchdown with five seconds left to give the Patriots a 10-3 win over the rival New York Jets.
Having said that, his special teams skills aren’t the only reason why he’s this high on the list.
Jones also played 370 snaps on defense in his first year. While he didn’t earn any individual accolades for his defensive work, he still racked up seven defended passes, two interceptions (one Pick-6), and a 75.4 passer rate.
The fact that he can be as effective as he is on both sides of the ball can’t be ignored. Jones is a special player who could easily move up a few spots if he can replicate (or improve upon) last year’s results.
8. Hunter Henry
Hunter Henry is the umpteenth Patriot who underperformed last season. While some of that is on him, a good percentage stems from how much of a mess the team’s offense was at times.
Henry finished his seventh NFL campaign with 41 catches for 509 yards and a pair of touchdowns. For some fanbases, that’s a fairly solid season. For the Patriots faithful, it was disappointing considering that the Little Rock, AR native finished with nine TDs in 2021 while his performance also marked the end of his streak of three consecutive 600-yard campaigns.
Keeping that in mind, all signs point to Henry potentially having his best season to date if the offense can stay healthy and Mac Jones gets his head screwed on correctly.
His 12.4 yards per reception and 69.5% catch percentage were both his highest marks since the 2019 season. He was also tied with Jakobi Meyers for a team-high seven red-zone targets and now that the wideout has moved on to Sin City, Henry should see a few extra looks.
Considering that he won’t even be turning 30 until December 2024, it’s far too early to write Henry off just yet. The talent is there, so give him a chance to bounce back and prove that he is one of the Patriots’ best players.
7. Josh Uche
Second-string players aren’t typically seen as the best on their team but don’t tell that to Josh Uche.
The former Michigan Wolverine is fresh off a breakout season that saw him finish second on the Patriots when it came to sacks (11.5) and tackles for a loss (9) while also racking up a pair of forced fumbles without missing a single tackle for the third consecutive season.
He also rarely gave QBs a chance to think, amassing 25 pressures, 10 hurries, and 14 QB hits.
The most impressive part of it all? Uche accomplished the above while only playing 38% over defensive snaps across 15 games without a single start.
If he can finally put it all together in Year 4, Uche has the potential to be one of the AFC’s most disruptive forces. If he can put together the pieces (specifically improving his coverage in the passing game), I won’t be shocked if a Pro Bowl is in his near future.
6. Jonathan Jones
If you aren’t a Patriots friend, Jonathan Jones’ 2022 campaign likely flew under your radar. However, if you do follow the team, you know how good he was last year.
After starting in just 27 of his first 85 career games (31.8%), Jones was a starter in all 16 of his appearances last season. The elevated responsibility was rightfully deserved as the veteran CB ranked highly among the Patriots in the following categories:
- Interceptions: 4 (T-No. 1)
- Passes defended: 11 (No. 1)
- Forced fumbles: 3 (No. 1)
- Solo tackles: 56 (No. 2)
- Completion rate (min. 20 targets): 52.7% (No. 2)
- Passer rating (min. 20 targets): 73.0 (No. 3)
On one hand, the Patriots desperately need an encore performance if they want their pass defense to rank among the league’s best again. On the flip side, some fans are concerned that Jones’ showing was an anomaly due to his breakout campaign not happening until Year 7.
I’m choosing to believe that Jones still has enough left in the tank. The fact that he wasn’t an everyday starter for so long means he’s taken less of a beating than other players his age, meaning I could see him last at this level for a few more years.
5. Michael Onwenwu
The Patriots’ offensive success this fall hinges on Michael Onwenwu continuing his impressive development.
The 25-year-old offensive lineman has started 41-of-49 games (83.7%) since the Pats drafted him 182nd overall back in 2020. He was instantly plugged into the starting lineup and hasn’t looked back since then, playing his way to a PFF grade of 84.3 or better in two of his first three seasons.
Even though 2022 was somewhat of a down year for the former Wolverine (79.3 PFF grade), Onwenwu was still better than your Average Joe, allowing only one sack while taking two penalties across 1,044 offensive snaps.
For reference, he’s now allowed just six sacks despite playing over 2,500 snaps. That’s some seriously impressive efficiency.
With his ability to play both guard positions and right tackle, Onwenwu is easily one of the Patriots’ most important players. If he can take another step forward, he’ll also solidify himself as one of the best.
4. David Andrews
Like Onwenwu, David Andrews is an important cog in helping New England’s attack produce results.
Having a reliable center is paramount to any success and that’s exactly who Andrews is. Opposing defenders rarely get by his 6-foot-3, 300-pound frame, resulting in his allowing two or fewer sacks in every single one of his seven NFL seasons.
What’s even more impressive is that Andrews continues to be dominant even though he dealt with a blood clot scare that made him miss the entire 2019 season. He’s played to an average PFF grade of 73.4 since then and just finished with a 74.5 last year.
Andrews is only 31 with a lot of football left in front of him. He’s not showing any signs of slowing down, meaning I fully expect him to be a top-10 center once again.
3. Rhamondre Stevenson
When the 2022 season began, Rhamondre Stevenson was penciled in to share the backfield duties with Damien Harris. It made sense, too, seeing that the former was only entering his second year while Harris had just racked up over 1,000 yards and 15 TDs from scrimmage in the previous season.
Harris’ injury woes prevent an even split, forcing Stevenson to assume a bigger responsibility. Fortunately, he took the opportunity and ran away with it — literally.
Stevenson finished the year with 1,040 rushing yards and five TDs on 210 carries while also hauling in 69 receptions for an additional 421 yards and another score. His 1,461 total yards from scrimmage ranked eighth-most among RBs.
Even with three-time Pro Bowl rush Ezekiel Elliott joining the backfield, I don’t expect any regression from Stevenson.
As solid as Elliott can be, Stevenson is the better pass-catcher and more suited for a three-down role. ‘Zeke’ will see a fair amount of action at the goal line, but not to the point where his younger counterpart will be obsolete.
Considering what he was able to accomplish last year when the Patriots’ attack left much to be desired, look for Stevenson to take another leap forward in a healthy offense.
2. Kyle Dugger
Although McCourty’s retirement stung many Patriots fans, the blow would’ve been much worse if the team didn’t already have Kyle Dugger.
The 27-year-old, drafted at No. 37 in 2020, is one of New England’s most versatile defenders, playing key roles when it comes to run and pass defense. In fact, he was just one of four safeties last season to finish with a PFF grade of 75.0 or better against the run and in coverage.
That’s without mentioning how his 78.4 overall grade ranked eighth among safeties who played at least 700 defensive snaps.
Dugger’s stat line further shows how he does it all. He broke up eight passes and led the NFL with two Pick-6s while even recovering a fumble for a 59-yard touchdown. He even recorded 26 blitzes and three pressures, proving that he isn’t afraid of joining the pass rush.
I’d be shocked if Dugger doesn’t have another lights-out performance this fall. He’s set to become a free agent once the season ends and will likely give it his all to try and cash in on a big payday. The Patriots would be insane not to lock him down, but everyone knows that Belichick needs proof that the last campaign wasn’t a fluke.
All signs point to Dugger being legit, though, so proving himself, yet again, won’t be an issue. If he can work on allowing fewer touchdowns, don’t be surprised if he challenges for the No. 1 spot on the 2024 list.
1. Matt Judon
When I came up with these rankings, the No. 1 spot came down to Stevenson, Dugger, and Matt Judon. At the end of the day, I went with the only one of the three who finished with individual accolades in 2022.
Judon was easily the top Patriot on defense last season. He led the team with 15.5 sacks (tied for No. 4 in NFL) and 28 QB hits while also amassing 60 tackles (missing one), three defended passes, and two forced fumbles.
His presence in helping stop the run is great, but so is his ability to join the pass rush. For reference, the Patriots recorded 168 pressures last season and Judon was responsible for 42 of them (25.0%). He was also responsible for 17.8% of hurries and 33.3% of QB knockdowns.
Not only did his efforts earn him his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, but Judon’s performance was good enough to see him finish ninth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. Furthermore, he was the only linebacker in the top 10 other than Micah Parsons.
In theory, 11 starting defenders per team means that there are 352 in the league when healthy. So the fact that Judon was seen in the top 2.6% of the group is seriously impressive.
Just like other players on this list, Judon found a ton of success despite the Patriots’ struggles last year. If the entire team can turn things around this season, the sky is the limit for one of the NFL’s best defenders.