The New England Patriots enter a new era in 2025 under new head coach Mike Vrabel. The former linebacker, who won three Super Bowl championships in eight years with the Patriots as a player, is now tasked with turning around a franchise that has struggled recently.
Some notable veterans have been added on both sides of the ball, including Robert Spillane and Stefon Diggs, as the new coach looks to change the culture in Foxborough. But will Vrabel be playing his starters in preseason Week 1?
Will Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs, and Other Patriots Stars Suit Up in Preseason Week 1?
The Patriots take on the Washington Commanders in their preseason opener on August 8, after contrasting seasons in 2024. Both teams took a quarterback in the top three picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, with Jayden Daniels leading the Commanders to the NFC title game in his rookie year.
Drake Maye, taken third overall by New England, couldn’t mirror Daniels’ success, and won three of his 12 starts, though he played over 30% of snaps in just one of those wins. The Patriots and their quarterback will look to take a big step forward this season, and Vrabel has stated that all of his healthy players will feature in the preseason.
“I would say most everybody that’s healthy should expect to play in the game. How long they’ll play, I don’t know, but we have to prepare to play in football games and, you know, prepare to win football games. So that’s the mentality that we’re going to take.”
Patriots fans should get a glimpse of their team’s new offense in action against Washington, which is reason for excitement, given the new faces that have been added. Diggs is joined in the receiver room by former Buffalo Bills pass catcher Mack Hollins, while rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson offers homerun potential on every play.
Players to Look Out For in New England’s Preseason Opener?
Diggs, Maye, Hollins, and Henderson will be intriguing to watch over the preseason, as the Patriots’ offense will rely heavily on the connections those players can form. But there are several other players to keep an eye on.
Second-year receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker failed to impress in their rookie year, and both are now fighting for a roster spot ahead of September. Both players should get plenty of time on the field in the preseason, and that roster battle will be an interesting watch.
Third-round rookie receiver Kyle Williams will be looking to show Polk and Baker how to impress as a first-year player, and should also see significant action. Fifth-round defensive end Bradyn Swinson will also be looking to catch the eye, having fallen further than many expected in April’s draft.
Washington has several interesting players of their own to watch, including seventh-round rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has impressed in camp. He was limited to just one game in his final year of college due to eligibility issues. Croskey-Merritt made the most of that one game, though, turning 13 carries into 106 yards and a touchdown.
