Patriots Receive Top-10 Ranking From NFL Analyst In One Area

The future is bright for the New England Patriots, according to ESPN.com’s Aaron Schatz.

The NFL analyst revealed his ranking of all 32 NFL teams based on talent under 25 years old on Tuesday and the Patriots were placed seventh on the list. Not only that, but New England is the second-ranked AFC team, trailing only the Houston Texans, who are first overall.

The Patriots have skyrocketed into the top 10 this summer after ranking 25th in 2024. Schatz credits the massive improvement to New England’s three “blue-chip players,” quarterback Drake Maye (22 years old), cornerback Christian Gonzalez (23 years old) and rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell (21 years old).

“Maye is a very promising young quarterback talent who turns 23 on Aug. 30. He ranked 17th in QBR (58.6) last season despite subpar receiver and offensive line play,” Schatz wrote. “But young talent is here to save the offense. First-round rookie Campbell is 21 years old. Third-round rookie center Jared Wilson is 22. At receiver, the Patriots have 22-year-old rookie Kyle Williams, plus the 23-year-old Kayshon Boutte and 24-year-old DeMario Douglas. They may even be able to get something out of 2024 second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, who had a troubling rookie season but is 23 years old with plenty of potential.”

Maye earned a Pro Bowl nod and finished eighth in the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season and one NFL writer even said he could be a future MVP contender.

Gonzalez enters 2025 as the Patriots leader in the secondary and one of their biggest defensive stars, though he’s currently nursing a hamstring injury in training camp. It was reported on Tuesday morning that the former first-round pick should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.

“One more leading young player is 23-year-old Gonzalez, the second-team All-Pro who covered opposing No. 1 receivers more often than any other corner in the league last season,” Schatz wrote.

Having failed to make the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, there aren’t many lists where the Patriots crack the top 10, but with a young core of Campbell, Gonzalez and Maye, brighter days could be ahead for fans in Foxboro.