On Saturday, the Associated Press announced their selections for the 2025 NFL All-Pro teams.
While the Patriots (14-3) are sitting as the No. 2 seed in the AFC, no players from their roster were selected to the league’s first-team. Two players, however, received second-team distinctions, with second-year quarterback Drake Maye and fourth-year punt returner Marcus Jones receiving the honors.
Maye is in the midst of a potential MVP season, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72.0%), yards per completion (8.9), QBR (77.2) and passer rating (113.5). He’s also third in touchdown passes (31), fourth in passing yards (4,394) and passing yards per game (258.5) and fifth in completions (354). And after dealing with turnover issues throughout his rookie season, he finished the regular season with just 8 interceptions to his name.
In addition to his passing prowess, Maye remains a factor in the running game, rushing for 450 yards on 103 carries, good for 4.4 yards per carry and 4 rushing touchdowns.
First-team honors at quarterback were given to Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who led the NFL in touchdown passes at 46, 12 more than Jared Goff who finished in second in that category at 34. Just like Maye, he finished the season with just 8 interceptions, having arguably his best season at 37 years old in year 17.
Is this foreshadowing for how the MVP Award voting will play out in a few weeks? The betting odds would tell you that’s the case, as Stafford ended the regular season as the favorite at -200 with Maye just behind him at +150.
This is the second season-long individual honor Maye has already received for his play in 2025, as the 23-year-old was the leading vote getter among all players for the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl. Third-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez was the only other Patriot to receive Pro Bowl honors for this season.
Jones received his second career All-Pro honor, as he was given first-team honors as a punt returner during his rookie season in 2022.
On top of playing stellar nickel corner for New England all season long, he’s been elite in the return game. He finished the season with 2 punt return touchdowns across 18 games, and is routinely a factor in the field position battle when teams regretfully decide to punt the ball to him. His ability to be a playmaker in this phase of the game has made it where teams no longer want to challenge the 5-foot-8 speedster out of Houston.
Selected for the first-team over Jones was Titans wide receiver/return man Chimere Dike, who also has 2 return touchdowns in 2025. While Dike was alone as the league-leader in yards per punt return most of the season, he finished the year tied with Jones at the top of the league at 17.3.
Dike was also picked over Jones as the Pro Bowl selection for the AFC in December. With that said, you have to imagine Jones will be in the mix as an alternate at both returner and cornerback, as he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.