The Patriots went from being favored in zero -- yes, zero -- games in 2024 to a very respectable 11 early on before the 2025 season. There's still plenty of offseason to go, but their incredible jump is a testament to the high-quality and plentiful additions from Mike Vrabel's new regime.
Given their new additions, however, a handful of higher-profile players are bound to face a more difficult road to making the roster in August.
Coupled with the inherent bias resulting from Vrabel preferring his additions, several players may have difficulty sneaking onto the 53.
A pair of wide receivers headline high profile players in jeopardy
WR | Kendrick Bourne
Kendrick Bourne's 2021 season with Mac Jones at the helm was the best of his career. He recorded a very solid 800 receiving yards on 55 catches, both career highs, to go along with five touchdowns. After the 2021 season, the team saw Josh McDaniels leave to become the head coach of the Raiders, and Bourne struggled.
He was cast out from Matt Patricia's offense for most of 2022 and tore his ACL halfway through 2023. In 2024, he could play ten games, but saw limited production: just 28 catches for 305 yards and a TD; the clear-cut WR3 behind Kayshon Boutte and Pop Douglas. Albeit the opportunity for Bourne to work with McDaniels again in 2025 is appealing, it's hard to justify keeping him on the roster for nostalgia's sake if he doesn't show out in camp.
According to Spotrac, the soon-to-be 30-year-old will have a cap hit of nearly $8 million for the next two seasons, a high number given his limited production. With the additions of Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency, along with Kyle Williams in the Draft, Bourne could become surplus. A group of Diggs, Boutte, Douglas, Hollins, and Williams is passable, and Bourne's lack of special-teams experience may peg him below the likes of Hollins.
Rumors have swirled about the possibility of Boutte being traded, but until something materializes, Bourne is in a tougher spot than some may think.
WR | Ja'Lynn Polk
Looking at Polk's production last season, it shouldn't be a shock that he's on this list. Given his draft position, though, his being in an iffy spot about a year after being taken 37th overall would come as a major shock. Polk is fighting a major uphill battle to make the team.
The aforementioned Bourne is fighting a battle himself, and the former second-round pick is even lower in the depth chart. Polk's lack of special teams acumen compared to draft classmate Javon Baker may lead him to be as low as the eighth wideout. UDFA from Eastern Washington, Efton Chism III, has also gotten some early hype, and with a sound offseason, I'd expect him to be on the practice squad at minimum.
A team may send a conditional seventh-round pick for Polk, but even that seems unlikely to me at this point. Several things would likely need to happen to draw out a path for Polk to make the team. For one, he'd need to have an excellent camp. If Stefon Diggs starts the season on the PUP list and Kayshon Boutte is traded, he could manage to steal a roster spot at least until Diggs returns.
He could have the chance to leapfrog his position-mates during that time. Finding a way for Polk to make the squad in year two isn't easy, but it would be a quick end to a disappointing Patriots tenure for the former Washington star.
SAF/LB Marte Mapu
Looking back to when Mapu was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it seems pretty clear Bill Belichick saw him as the eventual replacement for Kyle Dugger. When Dugger received his extension after Belichick's departure, the waters murkied for Mapu and his role.
Despite the absence of both Dugger and Jabrill Peppers during the season, Mapu didn't play as much as fans thought he might. Instead, veteran Jaylinn Hawkins saw an extended run, while Jonathan Jones and UDFA Dell Pettus saw game time. Against the Colts, Mapu was even a healthy scratch, as the team favored Pettus as an option over him. The Patriots have a new defensive staff that may not necessarily favor Hawkins or Pettus, but there's no more reason for them to favor Mapu.
Furthermore, with the addition of Marcus Epps to the backfield, competition is even fiercer for Mapu. In terms of styles of safety, Dugger and Peppers generally play in the box, though Peppers does have some more flexibility to play deep. Pettus also spent the majority of his time in the box. Epps and Hawkins saw the majority of their snaps come in the deep third, while rookie Craig Woodson recorded nearly 500 snaps from the free safety position at Cal.
A full-time move to linebacker isn't ridiculous to propose, and it may be his best chance to make the team. Jahlani Tavai's future is in some doubt, and perhaps Mapu has an opportunity through his possible departure -- 6'3" and 230 pounds, he has the frame for it.
A position change may be the best thing for his career, and if he doesn't make the change, he could be on the move come early fall.
More Patriots news and analysis: