Countdown to camp: WRs -- In race for roster spots, who will emerge victorious?

With Patriots camp set to open Thursday, we wanted to reset the roster at each position and give you a few things we’ll be keeping an eye on down in Foxborough. So far, we've previewed the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends. In this segment, we break down the receivers.

To be fair, we covered a lot of this here and here, but it’s worth taking a look at the whole picture at the position at the dawn of camp. Without Julian Edelman in the fold for the first four games and Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks now elsewhere, there will be an opportunity for someone to get extra targets. Could it be Jordan Matthews? You have to believe Kenny Britt and Phillip Dorsett will benefit from a full offseason in the New England system. Holdover Chris Hogan represents some continuity, and hopes are high for newcomers Cordarrelle Patterson and Braxton Berrios. But it's going to be fascinating to see how it all comes together.

No. 1: Julian Edelman



Position: Z slot with Flex abilities.

The good: Eminently reliable when he’s on the field, Edelman has proven himself to be one of the most productive receivers in recent league history — he was one of five receivers who had 350 catches or more between 2013 and 2016. I’m not sure there’s anyone who has ever done more to earn the trust of the quarterback, especially in big situations.

The questionable: How will he respond to spending all last season on the shelf? Will the knee be an issue? And will he be able to seamlessly integrate back into the passing game when he returns from his four-game suspension?

Skinny: I’d brace for a (relatively) slow start for Edelman, who probably won’t hit the same sort of marks he might have reached a few years ago where he had 90-plus receptions three times in a four-year span. But my bet is he’s back to something close to 100 percent by the time Halloween rolls around.