BREAKING: ESPN reveals Patriots’ biggest position battles during training camp.
During camp, the New England Patriots will be focusing on a few significant themes.
The New England Patriots are adjusting as they prepare for the 2024 NFL season, particularly on offense. The substantial changes on that side of the ball are essential following a poor season of output, but the significant upheaval raises some concerns throughout training camp and preseason about how the roster and depth chart will appear in the new year.
A few key elements of the Patriots’ offense have remained intact, including RB Rhamondre Stevenson and TE Hunter Henry, as well as several returning offensive linemen like Michael Onwenu and David Andrews. However, the quarterback and wide receiver positions are significantly different from their previous campaign, resulting in some eye-catching position fights to watch unfold in the coming weeks.
ESPN recently delves into the NFL’s training camp competitions, highlighting each team’s most important position struggle for fans to keep track of. When analyzing the Patriots, ESPN’s Mike Reiss identified upcoming England’s wide receivers as the most important competition to watch ahead of the upcoming season, rather than their starting quarterback situation.
“The Patriots don’t have a clear No. 1 option, but there’s plenty of volume.” Rookies Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round) are locks, and it would be surprising if DeMario “Pop” Douglas isn’t the primary slot option after racking up a team-high 561 receiving yards last season. That leaves Kendrick Bourne (when healthy/likely on the roster), K.J. Osborn (likely on the roster), Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Jalen Reagor among those contending for a maximum of three spots.”
– Mike Reiss, ESPN.
The big storyline surrounding the Patriots this season is their quarterback plans and what’s next for third-round pick Drake Maye, but coach Jerod Mayo has made it clear that Jacoby Brissett is in line for QB1 snaps to begin unless Maye shows to be ahead of schedule in his development.
The wide receiver corps in New England appears to be much more competitive through camp simply because of the increased depth brought into the roster.
The Patriots have much more optimism in their 2024 pass-catching unit than in previous years, thanks to the additions of two high-ceiling rookies in Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk, as well as an offseason signing in K.J. Osborn.
With a fresh and improved core of receivers, the big issue is who will emerge as the best option for Brissett or Maye during the regular season. Kendrick Bourne and Pop Douglas may have an early advantage in obtaining the WR1 target share owing to seniority, but a strong performance in practice and preseason from the team’s younger players might rapidly reverse that.
With more than a week of training camp remaining, keep an eye on this Patriots pass-catching corps as they prepare for a much-improved season at the position in Foxborough.
