Compiling an all-time New England Patriots list wasn’t easy. The franchise can be separated into two eras — pre- and post-Bill Belichick’s hiring — with many players in the latter category benefiting from Super Bowl championships. And, of course, you have to deal with comparing modern-era NFL players to those who competed pre-merger. It’s a challenge.
The final product is inevitably subjective. In our case, we looked at longevity, statistics, accolades, playoff success, and the eye test, and we ranked players based on who checked the most boxes.
When the dust settled, we had the 30 best Patriots players of all time, plus six honorable mentions.
Best Patriots Players of All Time: Nos. 11-30
Honorable mentions: Devin McCourty, Matt Light, Steve Nelson, Sam Cunningham, Raymond Clayborn, Russ Francis
30. Randy Moss, WR
29. Rodney Harrison, S
28. James White, RB
27. Dont’a Hightower, LB
26. Kevin Faulk, RB
25. Mike Vrabel, LB
24. Tedy Bruschi, LB
23. Lawyer Milloy, S
22. Stephen Gostkowski, K
21. Drew Bledsoe, QB
20. Troy Brown, WR
19. Jon Morris, C
18. Stanley Morgan, WR
17. Gino Cappelletti, WR/K
16. Ben Coates, TE
15. Wes Welker, WR
14. Adam Vinatieri, K
13. Bruce Armstrong, OT
12. Willie McGinest, LB
11. Nick Buoniconti, LB
Best Patriots Players of All Time: Nos. 1-10
10) Julian Edelman, WR
Julian Edelman might be a controversial pick at this spot, but he deserves it.
Despite barely playing on offense during his first four seasons, Edelman still ranks highly on most Patriots receiving categories. He’s second in catches (620), fourth in yards (6,822), and seventh in touchdowns among receivers (36).
Like Troy Brown, Edelman also was a great punt returner and sneakily good on defense. Would you believe he played 27 defensive snaps in the 2011 AFC Championship Game? Well, he did, and he spent most of them covering Anquan Boldin.
However, Edelman’s postseason heroics are the real separators. He ranks third all-time in playoff catches and receiving yards, ranking behind Jerry Rice and Travis Kelce in both categories. Edelman won three championships and claimed the Super Bowl 53 MVP after toasting the Los Angeles Rams for 10 catches and 141 yards.
Is Edelman a Pro Football Hall of Famer? It’s debatable, and he shouldn’t get in before Wes Welker — who probably won’t make it. Nevertheless, Edelman is the best Patriots receiver of all time.
9) Logan Mankins, G
Fans lament Welker and Randy Moss not winning Super Bowls, but Logan Mankins deserves the most sympathy.
One of the best offensive linemen of his generation, Mankins dominated at guard while playing for the Patriots from 2005 through 2013. During his time in New England, he earned six Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection. Mankins earned a spot on the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team and probably deserves a plaque in Canton, Ohio.
8) Vince Wilfork, DL
Vince Wilfork is one of the best NFL nose tackles of all time and an easy pick as one of the 10 best players in Patriots history.
Uniquely athletic for his size, he was an immovable, dominant force across 11 seasons in New England. He won two Super Bowls along the way while earning five Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection.
Wilfork’s impact often didn’t show up on the stat sheet, perhaps explaining why he still can’t get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But he absolutely deserves a spot.
7) Mike Haynes, CB
Mike Haynes played just seven seasons for the Patriots, but, man, those seven seasons were impressive.
One of the best cornerbacks of his era, Haynes earned six Pro Bowl nods during his New England tenure and was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1976, when he picked off eight passes.
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Haynes spent the final seven seasons of his career playing for the Los Angeles Raiders, which complicates his Patriots legacy a bit.
Still, Haynes is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and the best Patriots cornerback not named Ty Law.
6) Richard Seymour, DL
Belichick drafted Richard Seymour sixth overall in 2001, and it’s one of the best decisions he ever made.
Seymour was one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen during the 2000s, with his athleticism and versatility making him a matchup nightmare. He earned five Pro Bowl nods during his Patriots career along with two first-team All-Pro selections. However, Seymour is best known for being a key player on New England’s first three Super Bowl-winning teams.
Seymour was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
5) Ty Law, CB
Ty Law played with a ton of swagger, and he knew how to back it up.
A true shutdown corner, Law is one of the main reasons the Patriots won three Super Bowls in four seasons. He also was an incredible ballhawk, compiling 36 interceptions and six defensive TDs during his Patriots career. His greatest moment: a pick-six against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36.
Law, who is a Hall of Famer, finished his Patriots career with four Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections.
4) Andre Tippett, LB
Andre Tippett is the best defensive player in Patriots history and was one of the best outside linebackers of the 1980s.
He remains the Patriots’ all-time sacks leader with 100, and his 18.5 sacks in 1984 still stand as the franchise’s single-season record. If it weren’t for Lawrence Taylor, Tippett would get more love as one of the best pass-rushing linebackers of all time.
Also a Hall of Famer, Tippett played a huge role in the Patriots’ return to relevance in the mid-’80s.
3) John Hannah, G
Considered by many to be the greatest guard of all time, John Hannah was the consensus best player in Patriots history before Tom Brady came along.
He’s a nine-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time first-team All-Pro, and a Hall of Famer. Hannah also started all 183 games he played and missed just five due to injuries during his illustrious 13-year career. He seemingly never regressed, even earning first-team All-Pro in his final season (1985).
With Hannah at guard, the Patriots averaged at least 3.73 yards per carry in 12 consecutive seasons. The season after Hanna retired, the number plummeted to 2.91 yards. He made that big of a difference.
Hannah is on the short list of greatest offensive linemen in NFL history and deserves a spot on the Patriots’ Mt. Rushmore.
2) Rob Gronkowski, TE
Some all-time Patriots lists have Hannah over Rob Gronkowski, but not ours. The tiebreaker is the eye test and the fact that Gronkowski is the greatest tight end in NFL history. When he was healthy, he arguably was the most unstoppable weapon in the league.
Of course, Gronkowski wasn’t always healthy. He missed a lot of games over his nine seasons with the Patriots, which complicates the debate. So, too, does how his New England career ended: a year in retirement before a forced trade to Tampa Bay.
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Nevertheless, Gronkowski was a freak for the Patriots. He ranks fifth in franchise history in catches (521), second in yards (7,861), and first in touchdowns (79). He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots (although he didn’t play in one) and was a four-time first-team All-Pro.
Furthermore, Gronkowski was tough as nails and an excellent blocker. He was the ultimate football player.
1) Tom Brady, QB
Obviously, it’s Tom Brady.
Six Super Bowl titles in nine appearances. Thirteen Conference Championship game appearances, including eight in a row. Fourteen Pro Bowls. Three first-team All-Pro selections. Three MVPs. Two of the greatest statistical seasons in QB history (2007 and 2010).
Brady also led New England to 17 AFC East championships, including 11 in a row. He did what Patrick Mahomes is doing, and he did it for literal decades. He also added another Super Bowl title with the Buccaneers — but we won’t get into that.
Brady basically had three Hall of Fame careers.
2000-2007: Three Super Bowl titles (four appearances), four Pro Bowls, one MVP, one first-team All-Pro, and an undefeated regular season.
2008-2014: One Super Bowl title (two appearances), six Pro Bowls, one MVP, and one first-team All-Pro.
2015-2022: Three Super Bowl titles (four appearances), five Pro Bowls, one MVP, and one first-team All-Pro.
Brady is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. He also tore his ACL during the prime of his career.
Brady is the best quarterback of all time and the best Patriots player of all time. Period.
