15 Patriots Who Won't Return for the 2024 Season

The Patriots dynasty is over. It's a harsh reality for New England fans, but welcome to the real NFL. Nearly all of the dynasty's heroes and central figures have said their goodbyes to Foxborough, crowned with the departures of franchise icon Tom Brady, and most recently, Bill Belichick.

Belichick's exit and the hiring of Jerod Mayo have ushered in a new era in New England. As the Patriots do look to return to glory, changes will undoubtedly continue to come.

A new era in Foxborough inevitably means that familiar faces will depart, and new faces brought in. Whether they'll be riding off into the sunset, soon-to-be free agents, practical trade pieces, or strong candidates to be cut, here are 15 players that won't be returning to the Patriots in 2024.

1. Mac Jones

The 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jones had a promising rookie season, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. The former Heisman Trophy finalist at Alabama finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting as New England earned a playoff berth. The future was looking bright for the young signal caller.

In year two, Bill Belichick inexplicably entrusted the imperative development of a franchise quarterback to a defensive coordinator and special teams coach in Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. The decision undoubtedly stunted Jones' development and also led to intense friction between Jones and Belichick. The bidirectional distrust seemed to persist for the length of their relationship in New England, and Belichick even reportedly shopped Jones in the trade market prior to last season.

The impact of Belichick's departure and Mayo's hiring on both Jones' and the team's desire to move forward with their partnership is an important X-factor in assessing the quarterback's future. Maybe Jones' beef was solely with Belichick, and the team's beef with Jones was solely through Belichick, and now all is seemingly forgiven.

Yet, over the course of the last two seasons, Jones has thrown the fourth-most interceptions of any NFL quarterback, and his benchings have likely saved him from being higher up on the list. Over the last two campaigns, Jones has thrown 23 picks while only throwing 24 touchdowns.

New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, so perhaps the former NFL quarterback can help salvage Jones and return him to his 2021 level of play. However, with the third overall pick in this April's draft, the Patriots could also very well target a quarterback, casting even more doubt on Jones' future with the franchise.

Between the feasibility of New England taking a franchise quarterback at three, the possibility of Jones wanting out, the fact that the team has already shopped him in trade talks, and the unlikelihood that they will pick up his fifth-year option, don't be surprised in Jones isn't in a Patriots uniform next season.

2. Ezekiel Elliott

Elliott, a former fourth overall pick, signed with New England this past offseason on a one-year deal after spending the first seven years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Prior to the Patriots, Elliott had a standout career in Dallas. He led the league twice in rushing yards, was named to the Pro Bowl three times, and received two All-Pro selections. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on four occasions.

Despite question marks surrounding how much Elliott had left in the tank, he had a productive 2023 with the Patriots, especially when accounting for the shoddy offensive line and overall offensive ineptitude.

On 184 carries, Elliott gained 642 yards on the ground with three scores. Receiving-wise, he added 51 catches for 313 yards and two scores. He also provided much-needed stability on offense, suiting up for all 17 contests.

He led the team in carries, yards rushing, and receptions, and was forced into an increased workload following a season-ending injury to Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 13.

Elliott likely showed enough this season to elongate his NFL career at age 28, but with his one-year deal expiring, it is tough to imagine that it will be in a Patriots uniform.

3. Matthew Slater

When Slater's Patriots teammates came out for warm-ups in New England's regular season finale against the Jets, they were donning sweatshirts honoring the 16-year NFL vet and his impressive list of accomplishments.

The gesture assuredly suggested that it would in fact be Slater's final game, something that had been speculated on throughout the season.

Slater is arguably the best special teams player of all time, racking up 10 Pro Bowl selections, five first-team All-Pro nods, and was named to both the New England Patriots All-2010s and All-Dynasty teams. He's a three-time Super Bowl champion, and was also honored for his character and off-field contributions with the Bart Starr Award and Art Rooney Award.

Throughout his tenure in the league, Slater has carried himself with unwavering class and consummate professionalism.  The 38-year-old is the son of Jackie Slater, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and has the chance to perhaps follow in his dad's footsteps and receive a bust in Canton himself.

The younger Slater reportedly contemplated calling it a career last offseason following the retirement of his friend Devin McCourty. Reading into Slater's comments around the possibility of retirement this season, his reflective tone certainly suggests that 2023 was his last hurrah.

Slater has yet to formally announce that he is hanging up the cleats and riding off into the sunset. Whenever he does, he seems like the epitome of everything that you would look for in a coach one day, if that is the path that he desires.

4. Trent Brown

Trent Brown made headlines in 2023 for all of the wrong reasons. The offensive tackle struggled with injuries all season, and was inactive for six games scattered throughout the schedule. He was a healthy scratch for the team's Week 17 loss at Buffalo and was also inactive for the Week 18 finale at home against the New York Jets. However, most of the trouble with Brown came off of the gridiron.

In November, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated's Monday Morning Quarterback reported that the tackle was "habitually late to things" after Brown was left behind stateside for the team's overseas trip to Germany. A Boston Herald report also claimed that Brown "openly discussed plans to play for an NFC team" in the Patriots locker room a day after the team's Thursday Night Football win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

More directly, Brown denied that he had discussed playing for another team and explained that a litany of illnesses had prevented him from playing several games.

Brown will be 31 at the start of the 2024 season, and is ranked as the 22nd-best free agent overall by Pro Football Focus. Perhaps Brown's contentious relationship with the Patriots has been ameliorated by the departure of Belichick and the hiring of new head coach Jerod Mayo, but there just appears to be too much past conflict for a re-signing to make sense for both parties.

5. Hunter Henry

Another member of the 2021 Patriots free agent spending spree who is now becoming a free agent as his three-year, $37.5 million deal expires. Prior to New England, Hunter Henry spent five seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. The tight end had the third-highest cap hit on New England's 2023 roster.

Henry had a strong 2023 campaign, especially once Bailey Zappe took over under center, catching three touchdowns in his last two games. Henry caught six touchdowns for the entire season.

He carried the load in that department, as New England only had 16 passing touchdowns for the entire season. Henry led the team in TDs and was second in scoring (behind only kicker Chad Ryland) and second on the team in receiving yards.

The Arkansas product is ranked as the 46th-best free agent and second-best tight end available during this cycle, according to Pro Football Focus. Henry will be entering free agency with an estimated average annual value of $7.5 million, per Spotrac.

His demonstrated ability to produce in the red zone this season should garner Henry interest on the open market, likely with a more successful team looking to upgrade at the position. He was tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns of any tight end this season, behind only Detroit's Sam LaPorta, who caught 10 scores.

Henry should have his eye on a playoff-caliber team where he can be a contributor, although he is still relatively young at 29, it would be surprising if New England spends what it will likely take to keep him in Foxborough.

6. Mike Onwenu

Onwenu, who should be an offseason priority, had a breakout season once he returned to his natural right tackle position and provided some stability on a putrid offensive line. New England trotted out the most combinations of any NFL team in 2023.

Onwenu returned to right tackle in Week 9 and immediately settled back in. Per Pro Football Focus, the Michigan product was the ninth-best offensive tackle in the entire league during that span. He was also an absolute stalwart, playing every one of the Patriots offensive snaps (656 straight) for the remainder of the season.

Despite Onwenu possessing all of the hallmarks of a top offseason priority, “The Patriots essentially know Onwenu isn’t coming back, and he will have high bidders" per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Fowler continues to highlight that a multitude of teams across the league view the 26-year-old as the top offensive lineman in free agency. Teams are reportedly infatuated with Onwenu "because of his physicality, quickness and ability to play guard or tackle."

It appears that the hefty contract awaiting Onwenu in free agency is the primary deterrent to his return to New England, which truthfully is a little inexcusable given the cap space that the Patriots have this offseason.

The only real justification for letting Onwenu walk would be if he has made it clear that he wants to move on from Foxborough, but no reporting thus far has suggested this. Regardless, recent reporting doesn't instill a lot of optimism in New England fans.

7. David Andrews

David Andrews has been a mainstay on the Patriots' offensive line for the last eight seasons since joining the team as an undrafted center out of Georgia. He started at center on both New England's Super Bowl LI and LIII championship teams, and was named to the franchise's All-2010s Team.

Andrews has epitomized consistency, playing every game for New England in four separate seasons. Despite the struggles of the 2023 Patriots, Andrews was on the field for every single offensive snap, all 1,050.

After playing 1.050 straight snaps, Andrews revealed following the season he was exhausted. The Patriots' social media further fueled the narrative that it might have been his last game, posting photos of him embracing Matthew Slater, another Patriot who has become engulfed in retirement speculation.

Andrews also has his health to consider; the 31-year-old missed all of the 2019 season after he was hospitalized with a blood clot in his lungs.

It would be pretty hard to fault Andrews if he does indeed decide to hang them up, he has put everything into the game and has had a decorated career. He is under contract for 2024, the last year of a four year deal.

8. Josh Uche

Another Michigan man, Josh Uche's name was swirling ahead of the trade deadline.

There was reportedly a deal from the Jacksonville Jaguars on the table, but the Patriots and Jaguars couldn't agree on whether Uche was worth a fourth rounder or fifth rounder. Some NFC teams were interested in his services, too.

Regardless, Uche ultimately remained in New England, which for most franchises would probably indicate that they see him as part of the future, but in this case it was likely another example of Bill Belichick trying to get too cute in negotiations.

Pro Football Focus has Uche ranked as the 48th-best free agent available and 10th-best edge rusher. His market value should sit around $8.3 million average annual value.

Uche had a breakout 2022 campaign, when he finished second on the team with 11.5 sacks, but he regressed this season and only recorded three. His 11.5 total in 2022 was good for 13th in the NFL. Whichever team he ends up representing next season will undoubtedly be looking for him to return to his 2022 form.

Uche is still young (he doesn't turn 26 until September) and has shown an ability to push the passer at an elite level in the NFL. Plenty of teams will be calling in free agency, and the fact that the Patriots were fielding trade offers and haven't locked him up yet isn't promising.

9. Chad Ryland

Drafted in the fourth round of last April's NFL Draft out of Maryland, Chad Ryland had a first NFL season that he would love to forget. Ryland only converted 16 of his 25 field goal attempts for a dreadful 64 percent conversion rate, the lowest in the league for any kicker that attempted more than a single kick.

Despite those struggles, Ryland did still manage to knock 24 of his 25 extra points through.

With the addition of Ryland, the Patriots parted ways with the steady Nick Folk, who was scooped up by the Tennessee Titans and promptly converted 29 of his 30 field goal attempts and broke the Titans' single season record for field goal percentage.

Ryland missed a game-tying field goal in the Meadowlands against the New York Giants in Week 12. Down 10-7 with six seconds left, Ryland hooked a 35-yarder wide left to seal a Giants win and drop the Patriots to 2-9.

He then slightly redeemed himself on Christmas Eve, drilling a 56-yard field goal with two seconds left to give New England a 26-23 win. To be fair, the Patriots wouldn't have been in that spot had Ryland not previously missed a second quarter field goal and third quarter PAT.

Depending on your personal feelings on tanking, Ryland's miss against the Giants could have been a "win" and his make against the Broncos could have been a "loss".

There are only 32 of these jobs in the league, it is unfathomable to imagine that there won't be a more reliable kicker available to take over for Ryland.

10. Kayshon Boutte

Don't bet on Kayshon Boutte coming back to New England, and hopefully he didn't bet on it either. Boutte was arrested on Jan. 24 on a felony charge of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of Gaming Prohibited for Persons under 21.

While playing at LSU, the receiver played 8.927 online bets under a fictitious name while he was only 20, too young to legally gamble in the state. Per Louisiana state authorities, 17 of the bets were on college football and six were on LSU football games.

In light of Boutte's arrest, the NFL confirmed on Jan. 30 that it would also be conducting an investigation into the accusations.

Boutte only suited up for five games during the Patriots 2023 campaign, recording a modest two catches for 19 yards. His most notable moment of the season was in Week 1, when he failed to get a second foot down on a fourth-down play in the last minute against the Philadelphia Eagles as New England was driving for a go-ahead touchdown.

The sixth-rounder wouldn't be active for a game day for nearly another two months, when he recorded one catch for two yards in Germany against the Indianapolis Colts. Before the team's Week 6 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, Boutte took to social media to complain about his playing time.

Boutte's cap hit is a mere $961,818 in 2024, so if he has a lifeline, it is that keeping him shouldn't put much of a strain on the team's salary cap situation.

Between last years' lack of production, his public discontent with a lack of playing time, and now the investigative and legal processes surrounding him, he just doesn't seem like he's worth the headache heading into 2024.

11. J.C. Jackson

Undrafted out of Maryland, J.C. Jackson signed with the New England Patriots and spent the first four seasons of his career with the Patriots. In his last season with New England, Jackson earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He parlayed this standout year into a big payday, heading west to the Los Angeles Chargers on a five-year, $82.5 million deal.

Jackson's tenure with the Chargers was nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. In his last game with the team, he refused to go into the game, even when his teammate had been injured. He was traded back to the Patriots on Oct. 5 with a seventh-rounder for a 2025 sixth-rounder.

Concerns about Jackson's character and commitment only grew when he reunited with the Patriots. He was benched to start the team's game against the Washington Commanders over a curfew violation. This incident also factored into the team's decision to leave him behind when they traveled to Germany to face the Indianapolis Colts.

After being listed as active for the team's Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson didn't play and wasn't spotted on the sidelines, raising questions. Jackson's agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter that his client was dealing with "mental health issues" that prevented him from playing.

Following the incident, the cornerback was placed on the non-football injury list and did not appear for the rest of the season. Obviously, Jackson hopefully receives the help and support that he needs.

He still has a whopping three years and $42.5 million in cap hits left on his contract. No team will take on that albatross of a contract via a trade, especially after Jackson didn't respond positively to the last time he was traded. The 28-year-old is a strong candidate to be cut if the Patriots want to free up some of that cap space.

12. Mike Gesicki

Mike Gesicki made the intra-divisional switch in March from the Miami Dolphins to the New England Patriots on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. When Gesicki and the Patriots came to an agreement, the hope was that he and Hunter Henry could form a formidable tight end duo similar to many of the productive TE duos New England had employed in the past. However, Gesicki's production paled in comparison to his time in South Florida.

In his first five NFL seasons with the Dolphins, he averaged 74 targets, 46.2 catches, 3.6 touchdowns, and 523 yards receiving. In 2023, Gesicki was limited to 45 targets, 29 catches, 244 yards, and only two touchdowns. As the season progressed, it also became clear that the team didn't trust him as a run blocker and he became one-dimensional as a pass catcher.

In fairness to Gesicki, it is difficult to accurately grade any of the offensive weapons given the poor quarterback play and overall inefficiency of the offense.

Gesicki did provide Patriots fans with one of the few high points of the season, catching a one-yard touchdown from Mac Jones with eight seconds left to seal a 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7.

Obviously, it is challenging to gauge which offensive players do or don't have a place in new offensive coordinator's Alex Van Pelt's offense at this point, but Gesicki would likely be better suited in an open spread offense with NFL-level quarterback play than in a return to New England.

13. Jalen Mills

Mills came to New England as part of the team's 2021 spending spree, inking a four-year, $24 million deal to join the Patriots from the Philadelphia Eagles. The former 7th-rounder out of LSU was a key part of the Patriots secondary in his first season, playing 89 percent of the team's defensive snaps in his first season in New England.

His snaps began to slowly dwindle as his playtime dropped to 75 percent in 2022. The Patriots released Mills in March 2023 to save $5 million against the cap, before he was signed back to the team five days later.

Mills' playing time only fell off further in 2023, he was only on the field for 40 percent for the Patriots' defensive snaps. The lack of playing time wasn't lost on Mills, who tweeted his displeasure with only playing 10 snaps in the team's Week 5 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints.

He was shifted away from his natural cornerback position towards a safety role, but the emergence of Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger as two of New England's best defensive players stunted his reps at that position.

Mills is a pending free agent and will turn 30 in April. He has already been released by the team once, and his age doesn't make him a prime candidate to be part of a potential rebuild. It would be surprising to see him back with the Patriots in 2024.

14. Riley Reiff

The Riley Reiff signing was an unmitigated disaster, no two ways about it. After signing a one-year, $5 million deal with $4.15 million guaranteed in March, the 12-year NFL vet only played a single game for New England this season, a 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 5.

Reiff came to the Patriots saying he was motivated by a Super Bowl ring (yikes, how'd that one work out?) but struggled to stay on the field. The 2012 first-round pick was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 4, activated on Oct. 7, and then placed back on IR on Oct. 21. When all was said and done, Reiff only played 45 snaps in a Patriots uniform.

If New England wants to get subpar lineman play, they are betting off getting it from younger players such as Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow or Atonio Mafi, who might have a chance at developing still. Sow and Mafi were both 2023 Patriots draft picks, selected in the fourth and fifth rounds respectively.

It would be pretty surprising to see Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh re-sign a 35-year-old offensive lineman coming off an injury-riddled campaign in which he started only one game. If Reiff is still motivated by chasing that Super Bowl title, New England definitely isn't the place for him either right now.

15. Cody Davis

Davis, a special teams specialist, just wrapped up his fourth season in New England. Prior to the Patriots, the Texas native spent five seasons with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams and two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. As an undrafted special teamer, he must have been the apple of Bill Belichick's eye.

Davis is on an expiring contract and will be 35 years old when the 2024 season starts. The end of the Bill Belichick regime also likely signals dialing back the number of special teams only players on the roster under new coordinator Jeremy Springer. Although you never know, because if the Patriots offense looks like it did this season, then New England's punt coverage will get a lot of work in.

Of note, Davis and Springer did not overlap with the Rams, since the former had departed before the latter joined Sean McVay's staff.

In 2023, Davis also played the lowest percentage of special teams snaps since he joined the Patriots, and his lowest percentage since 2017. His $1.25 million cap hit in 2023 ranked within the top 20 on the team, ahead of names such as Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jabrill Peppers, Jahlani Tavai, Mike Gesicki and Trent Brown. In the event he does somehow return, it would expectedly come at a discounted number from 2023.

In other Patriots news: