It wasn’t the result that the Patriots (or their fans) were hoping for, but the 2020 regular season has finally come to a close. And, for only the fourth time this century, New England will not be participating in the postseason.

Between the departures of key contributors like Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, etc., and the lack of cap space available, the Patriots struggled to put together a roster that would compete with top teams in the league.

Now, after a disappointing season, there’s a chance that more role talented players could be leaving New England for new opportunities or a chance to enjoy their retirement.

These five significant players could be gone by the time the 2021 campaign begins.

QB - Cam Newton

When Cam Newton signed his incentive-laden one-year deal with New England last offseason, not many expected the poor performances displayed on the field.

The quarterback was a former MVP just a few seasons ago, and despite the injuries that he had suffered since, there was a belief that the ability was still in him.

Instead of bolstering the offense, the 31-year-old really held the team back from reaching their peak. Newton finished the season with 2,657 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. At points in the season, his running ability seemed like it had returned, but there were a lot of moments of the quarterback falling to the ground before he could be contacted. Still, he finished with 592 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

As a free agent, Newton’s price tag likely won’t be much higher than it was this past season, but the Patriots shouldn’t be jumping to bring him back. The team around him wasn’t great, but he didn’t make anything better on the field. Sadly, this might be the last NFL fans see of Newton in the league.

CB - Stephon Gilmore

Aside from some struggles when he first arrived in New England, Stephon Gilmore has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league over the course of his five-year contract.

The 30-year-old was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, along with being named to the All-Pro team in 2018 and 2019. Oh, and let’s not forget the Defensive Player of the Year award that he received in 2019 either.

It’s hard to ignore just how much success Gilmore has had throughout his Patriots’ tenure.

Now, he has one year left on the deal that’s set to pay him $7 million. Gilmore was reportedly unhappy with his salary this season before receiving an advance on some of the money from 2021. So, it seems unlikely that Gilmore plays on this current deal.

The question will come down to whether or not New England will be willing to pay top dollar to a corner on the wrong side of 30. At the level that he’s performed at, Gilmore will likely be looking for a contract that pays him close to $20 million per season to put him on par with guys like Jalen Ramsey and Marlon Humphrey.

Unfortunately, all signs seem to be pointing towards an unfortunate break-up between the team and the All-Pro corner.

LG - Joe Thuney

Joe Thuney hasn’t received the praise and attention that he’s deserved since he was drafted in 2016. Once he figured out the penalty issues that he was having his rookie season, Thuney has been one of the best in the league at his position.

Playing in all 80 games in his career, Thuney’s consistency is one of his best strengths. In those 80 games, he’s played over 99% of all possible snaps. On top of that, he’s extremely versatile. In a pinch, Thuney has been able to slide to center and perform well there as well.

In an ideal world, Thuney would spend the rest of his career with the Patriots. However, the salary cap will play a huge role. This season, Thuney was franchise-tagged making him the highest-paid left guard in 2020 at nearly $15 million.

He’ll likely be looking for a long-term deal this offseason, and there will be suitors that are willing to pay at least $12 million per year. With the Patriots already spending $9 million on their right guard, it seems that Thuney will have to find a new home in 2021.

RB - Rex Burkhead

Unfortunately, Rex Burkhead may not get the opportunity to outshine his “injury-prone” tag, as he suffered a torn ACL during the Week 11 matchup with the Texans.

This injury cost him the final six games of the season and ensured that the running back would finish his third season in New England with no more than 10 games played.

Burkhead has been a nice role player during his four seasons with the Patriots. His versatility at the position has allowed him to carve out a spot for himself as a contributor. In his four years, he ran for 1,026 and 11 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 96 receptions for 856 yards and seven touchdowns in the passing game.

At the start of next season, Burkhead will be 31. A running back over the age of 30 isn’t exactly what every team is looking for, so a running back over the age of 30 coming off a torn ACL is more likely to find themselves on the street.

It isn’t a guarantee that Burkhead is out the door, but there will be better options for New England on the market and through the draft.

K - Nick Folk

One of the biggest surprises of the season was the success of Nick Folk. Two years ago, Folk was out of the league following a four-game stint with the Buccaneers where he hit just 54.5% of his kicks.

He then signed with New England last season after some injuries and was average for most of the season. Then, when the season ended, the Patriots drafted a kicker in the fifth round, so many believed it was a one-and-done stint for Folk.

However, he was re-signed before the season began and has gone on to hit 26-of-28 attempts on the year. And, because of the anemic nature of the offense, Folk’s kicks were important, as the kicker had two game-winners and won Special Teams Player of the Week twice.

At 36, Folk is no spring chicken, but we know that kickers can play forever. Last year’s draft pick, Justin Rohrwasser, has sat around on the practice squad, and former second-round pick Roberto Aguayo joined him in December. With both signed to futures contracts this week, it seems likely that they will have a chance to battle it out during the offseason.

After an impressive season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Folk find a landing spot quickly. And, if the Patriots decide that neither Rohrwasser or Aguayo are kicking it (pun intended), Folk could always return to his duties in Foxboro.