The Patriots open training camp this week but before camp officially opens here are five things we’ll be watching for in camp.

1. The quarterback competition:All eyes in camp will be the quarterback competition between Cam Newton and Mac Jones. Bill Belichick isn’t calling it a competition, but it is a competition. Jones will have plenty of opportunity to prove he can be the starting quarterback of this football team. Newton has had a good spring but he did not do enough last season to warrant being the starter. He knows he has to earn it.

2. How the free agents get acclimated: It will be interesting to watch all of the free agents that were signed this off-season get acclimated to the Patriots offense and defense. I want to see how the Patriots will use Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith to generate match ups in the passing game. I am also curious to see how the Patriots utilize Matthew Judon in their front seven and how they use Jalen Mills in the secondary. It will be fascinating to watch Belichick and his staff put the pieces together.

3. Stephon Gilmore watch: Gilmore reported to camp but he is going to start the season on the PUP list. Albert Breer of SI.com reported over the weekend that it is highly unlikely that the Patriots will extend Gilmore. If that’s the case, then we may not see Gilmore come off the PUP list and suit up for the Patriots this season. The only way it happens is if he gets healthy and decides he wants to play under his current contract. This is a situation that continues to worth monitoring.

4. N’Keal Harry’s situation: N’Keal Harry’s agent requested a trade earlier this month but Harry has yet to be dealt. Harry is reporting to camp so it will be interesting to see what type of shape he comes in and how he performs.

If he struggles, there is a good chance he either ends up getting traded for a late round pick or he gets cut. Harry’s snap total in camp will go a long in telling us just how he fits into the Patriots plans moving forward.

5. The return of the opt outs: By all accounts, the players who opted out last season looked pretty good in the spring, especially outside linebacker Dont’a Hightower. It has been two years since they’ve participated in a training camp and while last season’s training camp was different, it is still training camp. It will take these guys some time to get acclimated physically and mentally to the rigors of an NFL training camp.

When it comes to Patriots training camps, this will be one of the most highly anticipated camps in a long time. Fans want to see the quarterback competition play out, the new free agent signees and what happens with Stephon Gilmore and the returning opt outs. It will be another eventful Patriots season around these parts.