Patriots Mailbag: Reacting to the first few days of training camp
Answering fan questions after the first week of New England Patriots training camp.
On Tuesday the New England Patriots held their sixth practice of 2024 training camp. It was the final practice of that block, as the team has an off day on Wednesday to conclude the first week of camp.
This is a natural pause point, with one week in the books. When the team returns on Thursday the tone should change a bit as they start turning their attention to the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers – which will be just one week away.
As we hit this break, it’s a good time to take stock of the big picture. With that, it’s time for the latest 98.5 The Sports Hub Patriots Mailbag, answering your questions about the first week of training camp. Let’s get to it…
We’ll start with the big topic – the quarterbacks. Through six days, weighing the two padded practices more heavily, there is a noticeable gap between Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. This shouldn’t come as a complete surprise – Brissett has nearly a decade in the NFL and Maye entered the NFL after his redshirt sophomore season in college. Maye may be slightly behind schedule, but the current gap does feel like it’s more about Brissett’s surprisingly strong start.
Yes, Maye’s current struggles shouldn’t come as a total surprise because his issues line up with either issues he had in college or when he’s simply asked to solve problems that he never faced at UNC. He’s currently facing a much more complex defense than any of the ones he did in college, and it’s moving a lot faster too. We knew his in-structure game was going to have some growing pains, and that’s exactly what’s happened through two padded practices.
There’s a number of ways to approach this, but I’ll try to phrase is as all-encompassing as possible. I don’t think we’re past the point where Maye can’t put pressure on the team to start him earlier than later. But, the preseason games are going to mean a lot more to him now than they otherwise might have.
This year, no. As a first-round pick, the Patriots aren’t going to be quick to bury Maye. He’ll get a chance to play things out before he’s demoted on the depth chart. As for Milton, his solid start to training camp is in the context of his expectations coming in. His bar is lower than Maye’s, at least for now.
It’s way to soon to go down this road. The only thing we know for sure at this point is two padded training camp practices don’t make up a player’s entire career potential. Patience is key.
WATCH: Zo & Barth react to Day 6 of Patriots training camp
It’s too early to say any of those players have outright earned a roster spot, because they all come in with a lot to prove.
That being said – I say this knowing full well what’s happened the last two years, and understand it comes with some serious context, but…Tyquan Thornton has had a solid start to training camp. He’s gotten separation, his hands have been reliable, and he’s handled contact well the last two days with pads on. That all being said, he’s still got plenty to do before he’s a roster lock – mainly staying healthy. But to this point, I think he’s done as much as could realistically be expected of him. We’ll see if he keeps it up as the practice intensity increases.
It’s tough to do this without a full roster projection (my first one will be the day after the first preseason game). But right now Kendrick Bourne (assuming he’s healthy), Pop Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker are all locks. That may be it, and if the team is thinking about keeping a sixth receiver it will most likely come down to how much depth they’re keeping at other positions.
Maybe this is a cop-out answer, but I’m happy they’ve picked a group and they’re sticking with it. I do think this current configuration with Chuks Okorafor and rookie Caedan Wallace at the tackles is among their better options, and is certainly worthy of an extended look – say through the first preseason game. Jerod Mayo said earlier this week the timeline to finalize the starting offensive line is by the third preseason game.
There’s still so much to be decided between now and when this decision needs to be made. On top of Caedan Wallace’s own performance there are other questions. Do they end up needed a lead pass rusher? What does Christian Gonzalez’s Year 2 look like? What do the rookie wide receivers show?
Also, Chuks Okorafor is part of this equation as well. He’s on a one-year contract. If Wallace is solid but his play suggests he might be better at his natural position on the right side, they could always draft a guy like Will Campbell from LSU or Kelvin Banks from Texas and reconfigure the group to get everybody at their natural position.
Both rookie receivers have been standing out over the past few practices. They’re heavily involved, and have been getting open with regularity. Polk in particular has probably been the most impressive player from this rookie class so far. It’s not just his performance but how he handles himself – he looks like he’s been through NFL training camp before. A pro.
This could be a year without any UDFAs initially. It’s tough, because most of them play positions where there’s already significant depth ahead of them. With that, I will single out running back Terrell Jennings as being the most impressive UDFA through six days of training camp. This kid runs hard. He’s going to be a ton of fun to watch in the preseason. Maybe with some big time performances in those games he sets himself up for a role on the team down the road if he gets to the practice squad first.
Just answered the UDFA question but on Judon – he’s to good of a player for them to replace him one-for-one if he gets traded. Joshua Uche and Anfernee Jennings would likely get the bulk of his snaps, but it’s more than that.
One player who has seen increased usage without Judon on the field the last two days has been Oshane Ximines. Ximines has been a presence in both the run and pass game, and certainly could be in line for a bigger ole if the Patriots move on Judon. He wouldn’t replace Judon, but could help in that ‘next man up’ conversation.
Those are non-contact jerseys – just like they are for quarterbacks. Players at other positions wear them as they are recovering from injury, so they can participate without risking a setback. For instance, Pop Douglas is working his way back from a hand injury, so he started wearing red on Tuesday when he returned to team drills. How strictly their enforced varies on a case-by-case basis.
