The New England Patriots have had a rocky start to the 2020s, but have the chance to rebound after finishing 4-13 under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.
Here are some players with all the skills to break out in the 2025-2026 season.
Arguably the leading candidate to break out, Maye is entering his second year in the NFL after a promising rookie campaign in which he posted over 2,200 yards in 13 games and made the Pro Bowl.
Maye showed a lot of potential on a stagnant Patriots offense last season that finished with the third-fewest points scored. Under Mayo, the Patriots’ offense struggled to show any signs of improvement from the previous year, where Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe split time as the starting quarterback.
This past year, Maye’s leading receiver was tight end Hunter Henry, with only 674 yards. However, Maye was able to make connections with Henry, as well as receivers DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.
Going into his sophomore season, Maye will not only have someone new at the helm, as the team hired former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, but an established WR to throw to, in Stefon Diggs.
BREAKING: Patriots to sign WR Stefon Diggs to a 3-year, $69M deal. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/gbjmxkv1Mf
— NFL (@NFL) March 25, 2025
Diggs has played with a couple of budding young QBs in his 10 years in the league, as a leading receiver for both Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud. Maye will now be throwing to the veteran, who posted nearly 500 yards receiving in just eight games last season with the Texans before suffering a torn ACL against the Colts.
The Patriots also improved their offensive line, a unit that gave up the fifth-most sacks last season. The team used the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on LSU’s Will Campbell, who will likely be protecting Maye’s blindside. They also signed veteran linemen Garrett Bradbury and Morgan Moses to help give Maye more time in the pocket.
How are we feeling about the current state of the New England Patriots offensive line? #NEPats
LT: Will Campbell
LG: Cole Strange/Layden Robinson
C: Garrett Bradbury/Jared Wilson
RG: Michael Onwenu
RT: Morgan MosesThis looks a lot better compared to what we saw last season. pic.twitter.com/0xs4pN1Q4k
— Patriots Lead (@Patriots_Lead) July 7, 2025
The Patriots have attempted to improve the team for Maye in Year 2, and the soon-to-be 23-year-old has all the pieces to break out and become one of the league’s top QBs.
The second Patriot who has the chance to break out is the aforementioned Kayshon Boutte.
The former LSU WR was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots in the 2023 NFL Draft, and had a very successful second season, considering the circumstances mentioned above.
He was able to make a connection with Maye, with the eye test showing that the QB was most comfortable putting the ball in the vicinity of Boutte or Henry. Boutte even caught Maye’s first career touchdown against the Houston Texans and All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
While many could consider his previous season a “breakout,” as Boutte posted nearly 600 yards and three touchdowns on 43 catches, he has the chance to become the Patriots’ future No. 1 receiver with an increased target share. Diggs is already 31 years old, and likely doesn’t have much longer in the league, so Boutte is set to be in the Patriots’ future plans alongside 2024 draftee Kyle Williams.
Boutte is sure to make the roster next season, alongside Williams, Diggs and Douglas, so time will tell what role he carves out on an offense that should improve.
Drake Maye yet another completion, this time to Kayshon Boutte.
Boutte has been consistent with repping with the 1s. pic.twitter.com/UUwAsm4Kw3
— Patriot RedZone (@PatriotRedZone) July 23, 2025
White will be entering his third season in the NFL, and hopes to improve alongside a very good Patriots defensive line that contains Christian Barmore and splash free agency signings Milton Williams and Harold Landry III.
Splash: The #Patriots are taking the biggest defender off the market, as #Eagles DT Milton Williams lands in New England, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
Williams gets a $26M per year in a deal done by Rick Roberts of @KlutchSports. pic.twitter.com/FAqIchfn4y
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2025
White had an electric start to last season, recording four sacks in the first two games of the season, and looked to be a breakout star already. While he still had a productive season, posting 56 total tackles, he cooled off in terms of rushing the passer, as he only recorded one sack all season.
Standing 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, White and has the intangibles to be one of the best defensive ends in the league if he reaches his potential. Hopefully, the more proven Landry and Williams will take some of the pressure off White and allow him a favorable matchup week to week.
Maybe the most surprising name on this list, Elliss is coming off a productive season with the Patriots, where he recorded 80 tackles, one interception and one and a half sacks. Brother of Falcons tackle machine Kaden Elliss, Christian was one of the better players on a subpar Patriots defense last season, a unit that is usually atop the league.
The eye test revealed that Elliss was all over the field last season, making impact plays. The Raiders knew that as well, as they initially signed him before the Patriots matched the offer and gave Ellis a two-year deal worth around $13.5 million.
Compensation update: Linebacker Christian Elliss’ new deal with the #Patriots is for $13.5M over two years, per sources.
This was the Raiders’ offer sheet that Nee England matched. Elliss was due $3.263M on a restricted tender and mow gets a substantial raise annually. pic.twitter.com/8d0vXXuJlH
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 25, 2025
Elliss will be in a battle for snaps this season as the Patriots have a slew of established linebackers, including Jahlani Tavai and recent signees Jack Gibbons and Robert Spillane. The latter seems to be the favorite for a starting spot, so Elliss will likely rotate in with Gibbons.
If he continues to make plays for the Patriots, he will undoubtedly have a second breakout and earn himself a nice payday two years down the line.
Those are just some of the players who can have a breakout season, but with the team being so young, there are many more who have the opportunity to make a leap.
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