NOTE: This is normally done a month ago but, as we know, this has been an unprecedented offseason with Bill Belichick's firing, Jerod Mayo's hiring and the filling out of a new coaching staff. In other words, it's been busy. And, to be honest, I didn't want to look back to last season all that much. But it is important to make sure you properly assess the players before you look to improve for next season.
Kickstarting our evaluation of the current roster by compiling our season ratings/stats, ranking the players, and then comparing that to where we saw the players before the season started. Then we'll give you our patented offseason depth chart and Patriots rebuild plan before free agency starts at Noon on Monday.
A couple of notes on this:
- My stats will be different than anywhere else. I just compile/view them differently. Like a sack is not always a sack for the person that did ultimately sack the QB. Did someone else really make the play? Was it a gift? Not every touchdown is a touchdown either. If it's just a straight bust by the opponent, that person should not get the same credit for scoring as someone who made a ridiculous catch or run.
- My preseason ranking was where the player was at that time based on practices/preseason games, not a projection for where they would be at the end of the season.
- Their current grade/ranking reflects how they played when they were on the field with very little consideration for injury.
- When you look at the final states/ratings, do not compare scores to other positions — they don't translate. Only compare players within their positional grouping.
- Grades are only for players who played over 100 snaps. The criteria used is how the player performed compared to the average NFL player at his position this season only (it is not a projection or comment on a player’s future), and injuries are not taken into account because the information is incomplete. Role on special teams not taken into account. Grade chart:
A: Elite player.
B: Good starter.
C: Average starter/reserve.
D: Starter/reserve and in danger of being replaced.
F: Reserve/should be replaced.
Plus: Ascending player this season.
Minus: Descending.
First some superlatives, based on our preseason roster rankings.
Players that dropped the most:
Here are the final totals on our player grading by position (players in italics did not qualify due to lack of reps/injury):
Offense
Defense (last two columns are pass rushes, and pressure rate based on their total QB pressures):
2023 FINAL PLAYER RANKINGS
For comparison, here are the final 2022 totals.
ALL-PRO LEVEL PATRIOTS
None.
GOOD STARTERS IN RANGE OF PRO BOWL-LEVEL
1. Christian Barmore
Rating: 11.9%
Final grade: B+
Preseason: 15
Plus/minus: 14
Just a completely dominating season for him. His 46 total QB pressures was more than the next two players combined. He has come into his own and should get an extension immediately.
2. David Andrews
Rating: 0.4%
Final grade: B
Preseason: 2
Plus/minus: 0
Rock-steady again, despite personnel bombs going off around him. Don't believe the hype about him slowing down. His stats were almost identical as a season ago, and he was more efficient this season.
3. Matthew Judon
Rating: 8.2%
Final grade: B-
Preseason: 1
Plus/minus: -2
Obviously his season was cut short but he was on another really good pace. Will be interesting to see if the Patriots re-up his contract, or move on to someone a little younger.
4. Christian Gonzalez
Rating: 1.2%
Final grade: B+
Preseason: 21
Plus/minus: 17
Another big injury but we saw enough to put him in the top 5 - he was that good. Patriots have their No. 1 CB. Great draft pick.
5. Jabrill Peppers
Rating: 1.4%
Final grade: B
Preseason: 18
Plus/minus: 13
Started off slow last year since coming off surgery but once he got his feet under him, he's been on the way up.
6. Ezekiel Elliott
Rating: 4.8%
Final grade: B
Preseason: 30
Plus/minus: 24
Did it all for the Patriots and showed he's not quite done yet. Has a lot to offer a contender in a reserve role - too bad that wasn't the Patriots.
7. Mike Onwenu
Rating: -4.2%
Final grade: B-
Preseason: 5
Plus/minus: -2
Took a mini step back this season but that's only because he had to move out to tackle for most of the season. He's a good tackle, but he's a much better guard.
8. Rhamondre Stevenson
Rating: 4.1%
Final grade: B
Preseason: 3
Plus/minus: -5
Had a tough time, for him, getting into a rhythm with Elliott here and behind a line that was always in turmoil.
9. Trent Brown
Rating: -5.0%
Final grade: B-
Preseason: 12
Plus/minus: 3
This will surprise some people but he had fewer sacks and total pressures (11.5) than a year ago (32) in that brutal scheme and was fairly efficient. His play and talent is not the issue. You know what it is.
10. Kyle Dugger
Rating: 0.2%
Final grade: B-
Preseason: 6
Plus/minus: -4
Another player adversely affected (somewhat) by a position switch that wasn't their best spot. His final rating was similar to last year but we expected another step and it didn't happen. Good and solid.
11. Josh Uche
Rating: 7.6%
Final grade: B
Preseason: 8
Plus/minus: -3
What can we say? He's great in his designated pass rusher role, but couldn't do much else.
LEAGUE-AVERAGE STARTERS
12. Mack Wilson
Rating: 7.5%
Final grade: C+
Preseason: 50
Plus/minus: 38
Came out of nowhere to be a very valuable role player. Can he take on a regular role? That's the question going forward.
13. Anfernee Jennings
Rating: 5.9%
Final grade: C+
Preseason: 33
Plus/minus: 20
Finally got a chance to play and, boy, can this guy set an edge and take on blockers. What a rise.
14. Deatrich Wise
Rating: 5.6%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 17
Plus/minus: 3
He's the same guy every year, and there's nothing wrong with that.
15. Keion White
Rating: 4.8%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 36
Plus/minus: 21
This might be a little rich considering he didn't have much of a role for a while, but we liked what we saw from the rookie and think it was a good debut.
16. Jahlani Tavai
Rating: 3.3%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 29
Plus/minus: 13
Executes at a high level, stands out against physical running teams but doesn't have much impact vs. speed.
17. Ja'Whaun Bentley
Rating: 1.8%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 11
Plus/minus: -6
All the snaps over the years started to have impact later in the season as he wore down. Time to get the next wave ready at LB.
18. Davon Godchaux
Rating: 2.2%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 10
Plus/minus: -8
Does his job and serves the defense, he's just not consistently impactful.
19. Myles Bryant
Rating: 0.6%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 23
Plus/minus: 4
This will be another people don't like, but he's a good football player who can wear a lot of hats. He's just small.
20. Jonathan Jones
Rating: 0.3%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 9
Plus/minus: -11
Certainly a good player and provides tough coverage, but it's hard to remember many impactful plays.
21. Lawrence Guy
Rating: 4.8%
Final grade: C-
Preseason: 20
Plus/minus: -1
Might be slowing down, but he had a really good season again and will serve a contender well as the Patriots try to get younger.
22. Demario Douglas
Rating: 2.2%
Final grade: C+
Preseason: 34
Plus/minus: 12
Showed great promise this season as a late-round pick. The only question is can he stay healthy?
23. Hunter Henry
Rating: 2.0%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 4
Plus/minus: -19
He deserved better than what the offense put out there. Glad he's back to be a bridge leader/player.
24. Pharoah Brown
Rating: 1.3%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 51
Plus/minus: 26
Came out of nowhere to be a very solid No. 2 TE, and even made a few plays down the field.
26. Sam Roberts
Rating: 3.0%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 56
Plus/minus: 30
Sneaky good efficiency for a guy who could been cut. Not sure he ever becomes a starter, but good rotation guy for now.
27. Cole Strange
Rating: -5.9%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 22
Plus/minus: -5
Showed a lot of toughness playing through a knee injury that eventually gave out, and some improvement. He's far from a lost cause.
28. Sidy Sow
Rating: -6.2%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 45
Plus/minus: 17
Shouldn't have played as a rookie - needed to get bigger and stronger - but fairly impressive debut in terms of skill. Intriguing player.
29. Kendrick Bourne
Rating: 0.4%
Final grade: C
Preseason: 14
Plus/minus: -15
If it's not here, I hope he goes to a place that doesn't put him in and out of the doghouse, and to a coaching staff that believes in him. Was just starting to impact things when he got hurt.
NEED TO LOOK FOR UPGRADES/REDSHIRT YEARS
30 Mike Gesicki 0.4% D 25 -5
31 DeVante Parker 0.3% D 13 -18
32 Jalen Reagor -0.7% D+ n/a n/a
33 Jalen Mills -0.7% D 28 -5
34 Daniel Ekuale 1.9% D+ 40 6
35 Adrian Phillips -1.5% D- 19 -16
36 Marte Mapu -3.8% D+ 35 -1
He's fine, just never found a real role. Will be interesting to see his position.
37 Bailey Zappe -6.5% D- 47 10
38 Mac Jones -6.8% D- 7 -31
39 Juju Smith-Schuster -1.1% D- 16 -23
40 Tyquan Thornton -1.5% D- 38 -2
41 Alex Austin -1.7% D n/a n/a
42 Shaun Wade -3.4% F 55 13
43 Jack Jones -3.9% F 23 -20
44 JC Jackson -5.6% F n/a n/a
45 Conor McDermott -9.7% F n/a n/a
46 Calvin Anderson -9.7% F 49 3
47 Atonio Mafi -10.9% D 41 -6
Some definite tools there but he was always going to be a little bit of project. Would like to see him in better shape.
48 Vederian Lowe -12.0% F 39 -9
DID NOT QUALIFY
Kevin Harris 7.4%
Jeremiah Pharms 3.8%
Malik Cunningham 0.0%
Marcus Jones 0.0%
Calvin Munson 0.0%
Riley Reiff -2.2%
Marcus Jones -2.3%
Kayshon Boutte -5.5%
Jake Andrews -5.6%
Matt Sokol -7.1%
Ty Montgomery -23.7%
James Ferentz -50.0%