The 2023 NFL season has been one of the most forgettable in New England Patriots franchise history. While the team occasionally showed promise here and there throughout the campaign, the Patriots will now miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons — their first time doing so since between 1999 and 2002.
The New Year is right around the corner and a lot has to change if the Patriots want to return to prominence in 2024. An overhaul is needed if New England wants to avoid a similar fate, meaning several Pats are likely on their way out over the next few months.
With that in mind, here are five Patriots who are likely leaving New England in 2024.
5 Patriots Most Likely Gone in 2024
1. Mac Jones, QB
There's little reason to believe that Mac Jones will be with the Patriots once the 2024 NFL season rolls around.
The former 2021 15th-overall selection made it clear this season that he isn't an everyday starting quarterback. After an underwhelming 2022 campaign, Jones' play isn't much better this season, leading the Patriots to a 2-9 record in 11 starts while throwing for 2,210 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Additionally, Jones' 3.5% interception percentage and 77.0 passer ratings are both the worst marks of his three-year career. That's without mentioning how his play has been so awful that he's been benched twice and even lost the starting QB job to Bailey Zappe.
With the Patriots on pace to make a top-five selection at the 2024 NFL Draft, the writing is on the wall for Jones. New England will likely have the opportunity to draft a QB prospect like USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye, who both have higher ceilings than its current options under center.
In other words, there's a good chance that Jones will be traded this offseason. Not only could he use a fresh start, but the Patriots can also save over $2.1 million by trading him, per Spotrac, meaning a deal could be best for both sides.
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
It's safe to say that JuJu Smith-Schuster's first season in New England was an absolute bust.
While a portion of Smith-Schuster's down year can be attributed to lackluster QB play, the veteran wideout didn't exactly do himself any favors. Heading into Week 17, Smith-Schuster had only hauled in 29 of his 47 targets (61.7%) for 260 yards and one touchdown — by far, the worst performance of his seven-year career.
While a bounce-back campaign is certainly possible, I wouldn't count on it. After racking up over 1,400 yards as a sophomore in 2018, Smith-Schuster hasn't had any productive campaigns outside of when he won Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. As far as I can tell, the Patriots don't have a Patrick Mahomes to help him return to that form.
The 27-year-old pass-catcher still has two seasons remaining on his three-year, $33 million, but that doesn't guarantee he'll remain with the Patriots for its duration. New England can save just north of $5.3 million in cap if they trade him before June 1, which jumps up to $8 million after that date.
Furthermore, Smith-Schuster can also be waived after June 1 to save $1 million if the trade market is dry.
Nevertheless, given that he isn't even 30 yet, I wouldn't be surprised if there's at least one team out there willing to roll the dice. If that's the case, the Patriots must move on to properly begin a new era.
3. Kendrick Bourne, WR
Unlike Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne was a bright spot in the Patriots' offense to begin the 2023 campaign.
The ex-Eastern Washington product was solid through the team's first eight games, hauling in 37 catches (2 more than last season despite playing 8 fewer games) for 406 yards and four touchdowns. Not only was he one TD away from his previous best, but the 50.8 receiving yards he averaged per contest put him on pace for his second-ever 800-yard campaign.
Unfortunately, disaster struck when Bourne's season came to an end when he tore his ACL against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. It's safe to say that New England's passing game hasn't been as effective since he began his injured reserve stint.
Bourne is now slated to become a free agent once the offseason rolls around. While it's possible that he could re-sign with the Patriots, he just saw how leaving the franchise benefitted former teammate and fellow WR Jakobi Meyers last offseason.
Besides, Bourne has only experienced one playoff game since joining the Pats in 2021, so chances are he'd rather join a playoff contender than be stuck in a rebuild. If that's the case, I can't say that I blame him, nor would most New England fans.
4. Josh Uche, LB
Few Patriots had as high expectations on their shoulders as Josh Uche ahead of the 2023 season. The 25-year-old linebacker was coming off an impressive breakout performance that saw him finish second on the team with 11.5 sacks despite going all 15 games without a start.
While some players build off such performances, that hasn't been the case for Uche. The former Michigan Wolverine regressed quite a bit this year, registering only 11 tackles with 3.0 sacks through 13 games (2 starts) ahead of Week 17. His 35% defensive snap share is down from last year (37%) and he's also Pro Football Focus' No. 83-ranked edge rusher out of 114 graded players.
Uche is only 25 years old and could improve, in theory, but chances are that last season's showing was more of an anomaly than the rule. He's also slated to become a free agent and could test the open market if he wants to be an NFL starter after yielding just three starts over the last four seasons.
At the end of the day, it just doesn't look like the Patriots are a good fit for Uche.
5. Bill Belichick, HC/GM
If the Patriots truly want to start a new era, it's time for Bill Belichick to go.
Yes, he's won six Super Bowls with the Patriots and is the greatest coach in NFL history, but that doesn't erase how disastrous this campaign has been. A lot of the shortcomings have to do with Belichick's questionable decision-making, both when it comes to the coaches he's hired and the roster decisions he's made. Without removing him from the equation, the Pats are destined to repeat the same mistakes.
With rumors that the 71-year-old could be traded this offseason, it truly seems like the end of an era in New England. For as much as he's done with the franchise, the Patriots need a fresh start and that means hiring a coach and general manager with a mind for the current NFL landscape.
While Belichick is far from hated by Patriots fans, there's no denying that his reputation took a hit due to the 2023 campaign. If he's brought back again in 2024 and similar results ensue, chances are the animosity will only increase. For Belichick's legacy in New England, it's best to avoid that.
Hopefully, Belichick has an enjoyable New Year — just not with the Patriots if improving is the goal in 2024.
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