4 Patriots players who should build off breakout seasons
With that being said, there are many returning faces to the roster in 2025 as well. Some had productive 2024 campaigns, even with the Patriots' struggles. Others had productive runs with different organizations entirely.
Regardless of the circumstances, both sides are looking to build off last season and reach new heights with the rebuilding Patriots.
Today, we're going to take a look at players coming off breakout seasons who are in a position to build off that success in 2025. The recipe for success is already there for each of these four players, but they have to let their play do the talking to make it a lived reality.
Here are four Patriots players who should build off their previous breakout season:
LB Christian Elliss
Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss should be able to build off his 2024 breakout season. He went from being a mainstay on special teams to appearing on 49 percent of the defensive snaps.
The linebacking unit was compromised early in the season after former captain Ja'Whaun Bentley went down with a season-ending injury. However, Elliss stepped up and contributed in a major way by recording 80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception.
With Jahlani Tavai dealing with an injury, Elliss could have a real chance to make some noise in training camp.
QB Drake Maye
This may seem like an obvious choice for this particular piece, but a strong rookie season from quarterback Drake Maye gave Patriots fans hope for a solid second year.
All told, Maye recorded 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions behind a struggling offensive line and a clear lack of receiving talent. Despite the lack of help around him, the former North Carolina standout still made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.
There's hope that things will be different in 2025 with many of the upgrades on offense, including the arrival of four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs and rookie Kyle Williams. Maye will also have a revamped offensive line with a new franchise left tackle in rookie Will Campbell.
The most successful franchises build around their quarterback, and the Patriots spent the entire offseason doing that for Maye.
WR Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte went from hauling in only two catches for 19 yards in 2023 to becoming one of the Patriots' top receiving targets in 2024.
The LSU product recorded 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. He was arguably the top vertical threat for the Patriots on offense last season. When Drake Maye wanted to go downfield with the ball, he often looked in Boutte's direction.
It remains to be seen how he'll fit on offense with all of the new additions in New England. As long as he continues to prove himself on the practice field, there will be opportunities for him to make an impact on game days.
EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson
K'Lavon Chassion was viewed as a highly-touted defender when the Jacksonville Jaguars took him with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. However, things didn't work out in Jacksonville, and he soon found himself bouncing between the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.
His breakout season came in the form of a career-year in Las Vegas with him racking up 32 tackles, five sacks, two pass deflections and one forced fumble. He seems to be playing with a different purpose now, and that could serve him well through training camp and the regular season.
Chaisson showed flashes of being a playmaker during the spring practices, and there's hope that newly-hired defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will get the most out of his talent.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bucs' DL Cracks Top 10 of Impressive Offseason List
Bucs' DL Cracks Top 10 of Impressive Offseason List originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tevita Tuli'aki'ono Tuipulotu Mosese Va'hae Fehoko Faletau Vea, more commonly known as Vita Vea, has been an anchor on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive line since the team drafted him in the first round with the No. 12 overall pick in 2018. Advertisement The former Washington Huskies defensive tackle was a key piece of the Bucs' 2020 Super Bowl championship run and continues to be an important part of the incredible run of four straight division titles and five consecutive postseason appearances. Vea has boasted two Pro Bowl nods in 2021 and 2024, with the most recent season setting career marks. That's part of the reason Vea has appeared at No. 9 on ESPN's list of the top 10 defensive tackles in the NFL. The list was compiled by Jeremy Fowler's interviews of executives, coaches and scouts in the league. "Vea slimmed down last offseason, and the result was a career-high 7.0 sacks along with his usual run-stopping ways," Fowler wrote. "But the stats don't tell the story with Vea, whose raw strength is undeniable. 'He's the kind of guy where if you don't have him [on your team] for a while, playing defense is a lot tougher,' a veteran NFL assistant coach said. 'A true difference-maker.' Advertisement "Vea's 10 tackles for loss also marked a career high. Head coach Todd Bowles is unafraid to drop the 347-pound Vea into coverage, where he makes open-field plays." Last season, during Vea's career year, he posted 42 total tackles with 27 solo and 10 for loss with seven sacks and one pass defended while earning his second career Pro Bowl nod. Related: Buccaneers' Offensive Line Gains High Ranking Ahead of 2025 Related: Buccaneers Could Lose Coach in Unwelcome Trend This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
We hit 61 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
We've reached 61 days until the Raiders season opener at Foxboro against the Patriots, With our countdown at 61 days we take a look at who currently dons the number in Silver & Black and who has brought it the most distinction. No. 61 Who's wearing it now: G/C Jordan Meredith Meredith first joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky. He now enters his fourth year with the team having appeared in 32 games with nine starts. Eight of those starts came last season as he took over the right guard spot for the team. This offseason, he has been lining up as the second team center behind starter Jackson Powers-Johnson. He has shown he can play a decent bit of guard, so he is being given the chance to be a reserve interior center/guard. Who wore it best: C Rodney Hudson On a franchise with a long line of great centers, Hudson fits right in. The Raiders signed him away from the rival Chiefs just as he entered his prime. He spent six seasons with the Raiders, making three Pro Bowls. He was traded to the Cardinals at the age of 32 and played his final two seasons in Arizona, with an injury shortening his final season and hastening his decision to retire at the age of 34.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Gronk reveals three things Travis Kelce needs to get on his level
New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski is often recognized as the greatest tight end in NFL history. Perhaps his best competition to sitting on that throne has been Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. It's a worthy competition between the two with Kelce being a three-time Super Bowl champion with 10 Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pro nods. Meanwhile, Gronkowski is a four-time Super Bowl champion with five Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pro nods. He was also the receiving touchdowns leader in 2011. Kelce has been a stat monster who sits behind only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten with 12,151 career receiving yards. His 178 postseason receptions are more than any other player in NFL history. So why isn't he universally viewed as having surpassed Gronkowski yet? When appearing on Hot Ones Versus with his former teammate, Danny Amedola, Gronkowski looked into the camera and told Kelce what he needed to do to get on his level, all while eating some of the hottest wings in existence. "You got to throw some [expletive] defenders out the club. Two, you need another Super Bowl ring," said a struggling Gronkowski, while thanking Amendola for helping him with the answer. "Three, you got to party your face into the dirt with your fans." The first response by Gronkowski is probably the nail in the coffin for most in the tight end debate. Kelce is an incredible player and a future Hall of Famer, but his makeup as a player tends to lean more toward receiver than actual tight end. Gronkowski was a big-play receiver downfield, but he was also a devastating blocker on the line. His combination of physicality and athleticism for a player at that position is unlike anything ever seen. It looked almost unfair at times watching him bully defenders and run through grown professional athletes like bowling pins. That doesn't minimize Kelce's accomplishments at the very least. It's simply a reminder of how different the two were as players, despite playing at the same position. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
