As the New England Patriots work through their offseason program, this is a great time to evaluate the roster and think about just how well the team can perform in the upcoming year.
Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema recently released a list of each team's three best players, and for the Patriots, his selections were all on the defensive side of the ball - edge rusher Matthew Judon, Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.
Here's what Sikkema had to say about his picks for the Patriots:
"Offensive lineman Mike Onwenu was an option here, but that’s about it for Patriots offensive players.
Matthew Judon had a down year but is still one of the top players on the team. Jabrill Peppers earned the highest grade of any New England player (87.3), buoyed by a 90.7 run-defense grade and an 83.2 coverage grade. Kyle Dugger also didn’t have a great year, but we know he is better than the 61.7 grade he recorded. Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez may have been in the mix if not for injury."
It's hard to argue with Sikkema's selections. Other than Onwenu and Gonzalez, who were written as honorable mentions, there are not many other players who could be in this mix.
The recently-extended Christian Barmore may have a case. He's recorded 133 tackles (18 for a loss), 32 quarterback hits, 12.5 sacks, nine passes defended and a forced fumble in his time with the team, and he's coming off of the best single season of his career in 2023.
On offense, running back Rhamondre Stevenson should get consideration. He's rushed for 2,265 yards and 14 touchdowns on 4.5 yards per carry while adding another 782 yards and one score on 121 receptions in his three years with the team. However, injuries have limited his time and production as well, so his omission isn't a huge problem.
If rookie quarterback Drake Maye lives up to expectations, he should take a spot on this list in 2025.