Patriots Crystal Ball: Bold Predictions for 2025
From Drake Maye’s struggles to breakout defenders, bold predictions for the Patriots’ 2025 season.

Reviewing Last Year’s Predictions
Here’s what I projected going into last season:
- The Patriots would go 5–12
- Rhamondre Stevenson would rush for 1,200 yards
- Alex Van Pelt would be one-and-done as offensive coordinator
- Jerod Mayo would not be the head coach the next time the Patriots finished above .500
- Drake Maye would be starting by Week 5
- Joe Milton would start a game—and win
- Kayshon Boutte would have more receptions than Tyquan Thornton
- Joey Slye would kick a 62-yard field goal
What Actually Happened
- The Patriots went 4–13
- Stevenson rushed for 801 yards
- Van Pelt and Mayo are gone
- Drake Maye started in Week 6
- Joe Milton started the final game against Buffalo—and won
- Boutte easily outperformed Thornton
- Joey Slye hit a team-record 63-yard FG in Week 4
Not too bad.
Crystal Ball for 2025
1. Patriots Will Have a Top-Five Rushing Offense

I won’t double down on predicting Stevenson to reach 1,200 yards, though I wouldn't be surprised if he approached that number. Instead, I’ll say this: the Patriots as a whole will be one of the best rushing teams in the NFL--top five, as a matter of fact.
- The offensive line might not be very good at pass blocking, but they are all above-average run blockers. Will Campbell already looks elite. Garrett Bradbury sucks at pass protection but has always been effective in the run game. Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses are veterans who will look to build a chemistry on the right side.
- The backfield trio of Stevenson, rookie TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson might be the best trio in the NFL. All three can break explosive runs and contribute in the passing game--to varying degrees. Splitting carries between the three is horrible for fantasy owners, but it will benefit the individual players during games and over the season.
- Last year, the Patriots ranked 13th in rushing. With a better offensive line, an explosive rookie addition, and a head coach who stresses ball security (the most dangerous place for the ball is in the air), a jump into the top five seems attainable.
2. Garrett Bradbury Won’t Be on the Team by Week 6
Did I mention Bradbury’s pass protection is as bad as advertised? It showed in preseason, and it’ll be even more exposed when he is playing full games. Here is how Bradbury should know his job is not secure:
- Rookie Jared Wilson will begin the season as the starting left guard, but he was drafted in hopes he will be the center of the future.
- Mike Vrabel appears to have an affinity for Ben Brown, who has a lot of experience starting at center for the Patriots. Brown started getting reps with the top unit at center late in camp when Bradbury was sidelined with an injury for a short while. Vrabel then had Brown starting at left guard--a position Brown had never played in his career.
If Drake Maye starts taking unnecessary hits or if he doesn't have room to step up in the pocket, Bradbury’s leash will be short.
3. Efton Chism III Will Have More Receptions than DeMario Douglas

Last year I said Boutte would outperform Thornton—and he did. This year, I’m going bolder and predicting Efton Chism III to top DeMario Douglas in receptions.
Here's why:
- Douglas has yet to top 621 yards or 3 TDs in a season.
- Chism offers a bit more size, which may help him click with Maye.
- Maye and Douglas have struggled with timing (see last year’s final drive vs the Rams and this preseason vs. Minnesota as prime examples).
- Douglas gets hit hard and has a history of concussions.
Douglas will get a big head start, and Chism is starting the season banged up. Don't be surprised if "Chizz" is inactive for the season opener. But injuries happen--and Stefon Diggs happens--so I expect Chism to get his opportunity at some point by midseason, and I expect him to be a favorite target of Maye by the end of the season.
4. Alex Austin Will Lead the Team in Interceptions
I was going with this prediction even before Christian Gonzalez was ruled out for Week One—and possibly beyond. I figured quarterbacks will be looking to avoid Gonzalez' side of the field. Carlton Davis III has shown he can't stay healthy for a full season and he has, mostly, been held out of camp. When either Davis or Gonzalez can't go, it will be Austin starting on the outside.
If Gonzalez and Davis are on the field at the same time, they form a formidable duo. In that scenario, Austin will be pushing Marcus Jones for the starting slot cornerback job. That would be a spot that would get a lot of targets--and opportunities for interceptions.
Austin only has one career interception in his two seasons in the NFL. The 2023 7th-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills bounced around a few practice squads before finding a home in New England midway through that season. Since then, he has gotten better and better.
5. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams Will Combine for 14 Sacks

Barmore came on strong at the end of 2023—finishing with 8.5 sacks plus countless plays where he collapsed the pocket and forced hurried throws.Milton Williams arrives in New England after recording two sacks in last year's Super Bowl against Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes. He will look to play an even bigger role with the Patriots in 2025.
Fourteen sacks between two interior linemen is almost unheard of—those are usually numbers reserved for edge-rushers or outside linebackers. But in Mike Vrabel’s scheme--with creative interior blitz looks and stunts--the opportunities will be there. Offensive coordinators won't be able to double team both of them.
The Patriots haven’t had a true inside duo like this since the days of Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour (2004–2008). Let's just hope Barmore doesn't have any more recurrences of his blood clots--for his sake, first and foremost, and the Patriots' sake.
6. Drake Maye Will Lead the NFL in Interceptions

I hate to say it, but...
He threw 10 interceptions in 13 games as a rookie. The league leaders were Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins with 16.
Maye did a good job protecting the ball in camp after throwing four interceptions on the first day of voluntary workouts. Remember the media circus after that?
He won't be asked to throw as much as many fans might hope (see above about Vrabel and ball security), but Maye has a tendency to play "hero ball" when those situations arise. Combine that with a poor pass-protecting offensive line, miscommunications (see DeMario Douglas), and not the most sure-handed of receivers and you have opportunities for errant throws and batted/tipped balls.
Leading the league in interceptions doesn't mean you're a bad quarterback. Baker Mayfield is not a bad quarterback (notice I am not saying anything about Kirk Cousins at this stage of his career). Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger (twice), Matthew Stafford, John Elway, and Brett Favre (three times) all led or tied for the league lead in interceptions at some point(s) in their career.
7. Robert Spillane Will Score Two Defensive Touchdowns

When I see Robert Spillane, I see Tedy Bruschi. That's a huge compliment. Bruschi was a fan favorite (and one of mine!) and had a knack for making big plays in clutch moments.
Spillane is a great story. He went undrafted in 2018 and started the year on Mike Vrabel's Tennessee Titans practice squad. He worked his ass off and made himself not only into a serviceable linebacker–he was third in the NFL in tackles last year for the Raiders.
Robert Spillane is an aggressive downhill player. He also seems to be a smart player with exemplary instincts on knowing what ball carriers and quarterbacks are thinking at any given moment.
He just seems to always be around the ball. When that happens, if the ball pops loose or if there is a slightly errant throw, Spillane will likely be there. And he will be ready to take it to the (light)house.
Two defensive touchdowns is asking a lot — many teams don’t score that many all year. But go bold or go home, right?
8. John Parker Romo Will Post a Better FG% Than Andy Borregales
If both kickers were free agents, Romo would still be in a Patriots uniform right now.
Many argue Romo outperformed Borregales in camp. I am one of them.
The Patriots spent a sixth-round pick on Borregales. Plain and simple--that is why he made the team.
Drafting kickers has not worked out well for the Patriots this decade:
- Justin Rohrwasser (2020, 5th round): Cut before the season, never played an NFL snap.
- Chad Ryland (2023, 4th round): Made just 64% of his kicks and helped seal Belichick’s exit.
Drafting kickers is nowhere near an exact science. Even the 49ers have had issues with their 2023 3rd-round draft pick, kicker Jake Moody. And they drafted him in the third round!
The 29-year-old Romo, meanwhile, had a small but successful NFL stint (11-12 FGs) with Minnesota in 2024 and could be a late bloomer—just like Nick Folk. He hasn’t signed with anyone yet, but I believe he’ll resurface somewhere and make the Patriots regret keeping Borregales... and might cost Eliot Wolf his job.
Final Record Prediction: 9–8

The Patriots are probably still one more year away from being a serious playoff contender. They will benefit from a soft schedule this year, so the record might look good at the end of the season. But don't be fooled. The team won't be as good as that final record might indicate.
Having said that--the way New England starts the season may determine if they do make the playoffs this year. I have them losing to Las Vegas in the opener. I can see the Patriots going 4-1 in their first five games (Las Vegas, at Miami, Pittsburgh, Carolina, at Buffalo) or 1-4.
Weeks 6-8 will be pivotal for the Patriots, especially for Drake Maye and the offense, to kick it into high gear for the second half of the season. They should have three easy wins--at New Orleans, at Tennessee, home against Cleveland--and opportunities to work out any issues.
Patriots' fans are eager to reclaim their spot at the top of the NFL, but they need to remember this team finished 4-13 the last two seasons. It might explain why Vrabel has cleaned house of last year's captains and several veteran players. He is trying to exorcise the ghosts of the last two seasons.
Success will not happen overnight.