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5 Patriots Who Won't Return in 2025 With Season Officially Over

By Efstathios Savvidis

Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images / Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
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The 2024 New England Patriots were underwhelming, making them painful to watch every Sunday. The only encouraging takeaway from this season was that Drake Maye is the future of the Patriots and has the potential to become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. 

The Patriots in the 2025 offseason have done their best to fix their mistakes by firing Jarod Mayo and hiring Mike Vrabel. While Vrabel has wrapped up putting together a coaching staff, it’s time to look forward to the next part of the offseason, which is free agency.

The Patriots have a number of decisions they need to make to improve the team. Some of them include the future of these five Patriot players. 

1. Jonathan Jones, CB

Jonathan Jones has been with the Patriots since 2016, where he signed as an undrafted free agent. In his time with the Patriots he’s played an integral role as the team’s slot corner, helping them win two super bowls. 

In recent seasons Jones has lined up in the slot, safety, and one-on-one against the opponent's best receiver, where he was able to hold his own in the 2022 season. Last season Jones’s coverage took a step back, allowing a completion percentage of 71.7% on 60 targets for seven touchdowns.  

Jones, who’ll be 32 in September, is a free agent and the Patriots are under new leadership yet again, with Vrabel as head coach. Jones is past his prime and cornerbacks playing into their 30s tend not to age well. 

With Vrabel and Terrell Williams implementing their defensive scheme along with the cornerback depth in free agency, this could indicate that Jones’s tenure in New England is over. The Patriots need another cornerback that can line up opposite of Christian Gonzalez and they could find that just that by signing Charvarius Ward or Carlton Davis III.

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