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As the New England Patriots prepare to head to the practice fields at Gillette Stadium for training camp in three weeks, head coach Mike Vrabel has his team in prime position to make a run at the Super Bowl again. While cornerstone pieces like franchise quarterback Drake Maye and newly acquired superstar wideout A.J. Brown are locked into their roles, several critical areas of the roster remain completely up for grabs.
With 45 new faces on the 90-man roster, the competition for the final 53 will be intense all summer long. Here are the five most compelling position battles to watch closely when camp kicks off in late July.
1. EDGE: Ever since the franchise parted ways with Matthew Judon, finding a consistent, double-digit sack threat guy off the edge has been a work in progress. While Harold Landry III anchors one side, the starting role opposite him—and the subsequent rotational depth—is completely wide open.
In the mix: Dre’Mont Jones, Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas, and Jesse Luketa.
What to watch: Dre’Mont Jones brings veteran experience, but Vrabel’s defense thrives on speed off the edge. Jones best attribute is his alignment versatility. Keep a close eye on second-year players Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder. If either can take a significant sophomore leap during padded practices, it changes the entire dynamic of the front seven. Gabe Jacas was expected to be in the mix but remaining unsigned has set him back in the competition.
2. Slot Receiver: The blockbuster trade for A.J. Brown and the arrival of Romeo Doubs give Drake Maye an incredibly formidable outside duo. However, how the targets shake out underneath and inside the numbers will be one of the summer’s top storylines.
In the mix: DeMario “Pop” Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and rookie Efton Chism III.
What to Watch: Pop Douglas is the heavy incumbent favorite, having logged over 70% of his snaps in the slot last season while posting career highs in yards-per-catch (14.4) and yards-per-target (9.7). His established chemistry with Maye gives him the edge. However, Kayshon Boutte’s roster status remains a major talking point, and a strong summer from him or a steady camp from Chism could complicate the depth chart.
3. Offensive Tackle: The Patriots’ offensive line is still a work in progress in some ways, specifically at offensive tackle, and the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to keeping Drake Maye upright. With foundational versatile pieces like Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu anchoring the interior, the perimeter tackle spots will feature a fascinating blend of youth and experience.
In the mix: Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Caedan Wallace, and Marcus Bryant.
What to Watch: All eyes will be on Will Campbell and how he bounces back from a difficult Super Bowl. The hope is that Campbell recaptures the form he showed before getting hurt against the Bengals last season. Vrabel will lean on the veteran savvy of Morgan Moses at right tackle but rookie Caleb Lomu could push for early playing time as a swing tackle and back up. He will get plenty of reps in camp both at guard and tackle. Third year tackle Caedan Wallace is also a player to watch at both guard and tackle. The combination of configurations tried during the first two weeks of camp will signal exactly how comfortable the coaching staff is with this offensive line and who to play where.
4. Tight End: Hunter Henry returns as the starting tight end and the leader of the tight end room, but the Patriots’ offensive scheme frequently calls for multi-tight end sets (12 and 13 personnel) that require a reliable, versatile second option who can both block inline and leak out into the flat.
In the mix: Eli Raridon, Jack Westover, CJ Dippre, and Tanner Arkin.
What to Watch: Rookie Eli Raridon has the physical tools to earn immediate playing time as the U or second tight end, but he faces a steep learning curve in pass protection. Jack Westover has shown flashes of reliability, making this a pure battle of upside versus consistency. If Raridon can prove he won’t be a liability in the run game, his receiving ceiling should win him the job.
5. Running Back: Rhamondre Stevenson is the clear bell-cow, and rookie TreVeyon Henderson is locked into a prominent role in the backfield. However, the battle for the third running back spot—and potential special teams contributions—will be incredibly tight.
In the mix: Lan Larison, Jamarion Miller, and Myles Montgomery.
What to Watch: Lan Larison made a strong impression throughout spring workouts and OTAs, carrying the bulk of the rotational load behind the top two backs. He enters camp as the frontrunner for the RB3 spot, but he will have to fend off the talented Jamarion Miller once the pads come on and real contact begins. Miller has intriguing upside.