Pats Pulpit
The first nine weeks of the 2025 NFL season are in the books, and they have been quite successful for the New England Patriots. The team’s overall record of 7-2 speaks for itself, but achieving it would not have been possible without some impressive individual performances as well.
Let’s honor those at the halfway point of the season.
First a look at what our staff thinks, and then it’s on to your answers.
MVP: QB Drake Maye. Easy. The team was always going to go as far as their second-year quarterback could develop, but no one could have anticipated he’d take such a leap forward into the MVP conversation for the entire league.
Best Offensive Player: WR Stefon Diggs. This unit has gone from one of the worst in the league over the past couple of years to one of the best and Diggs is the biggest addition. He’s been a mid-level WR1 in his return from injury, which is meant as legitimate praise.
Best Defensive Player: CB Christian Gonzalez. He’s missed time for a few different injuries, but it’s incredibly apparent that they’re a top 10 unit in the league when he’s healthy and a bottom 10 unit when he’s out.
Best Rookie: LT Will Campbell. He’s stepped in on the left side and has been an average starter through the first half of his rookie campaign, which is all you can really ask for. He’s young and the sky is the limit.
Best Free Agency Signing:
Best Coach: OC Josh McDaniels. He has the offense humming as one of the most efficient passing attacks in the entire league, and has been able to cover for one of the worst rushing attacks.
Biggest Surprise: How bad the rushing attack has been. Keeping this on the offensive side of the ball, but no one could have anticipated that the Patriots would have the second-worst rushing attack in football.
Best Game: Patriots 23, Bills 20, IN BUFFALO. This was the Patriots coming out party as a contender in an otherwise weak year for the league. It might not have been the prettiest or most efficient outing, but it was certainly the most meaningful.
MVP: Drake Maye. Drake Maye was a talented but flawed QB in 2024, one who showed flashes but who needed serious refinement. In 2025, he isn’t just the most valuable player on the Patriots – he’s a serious contender for most valuable player in the league. His combination of athleticism and quick decision-making has unlocked every area of the field for New England’s offense.
Best Offensive Player: Stefon Diggs. Recovering from a torn ACL, many weren’t sure what Stefon Diggs would be in 2025. What they’ve gotten is a receiver averaging 2.29 yards per route run, his best mark since 2022. Outside of Maye, no one has been better than Diggs on offense for New England.
Best Defensive Player: Milton Williams. In 2024, no...
