Before we get into my initial 53-man offering next week, I wanted to tie a bow on what we saw from the Patriots on the field during practices and also information culled from team sources. Here are a few of the players who stood out positively and negatively during the spring and early summer. No particular order, mostly going through the positions. Omission isn't a negative, they just didn't surprise or disappoint me.
HELPED THEMSELVES
QB Drake Maye: Wouldn't say I was blown away by him in the spring but I wasn't expecting all that much in a brand new offense, and neither should anyone else. I did like how his confidence grew and I heard he had some boffo moments in practices we weren't at. I only care about his comfort come mid August and I'm not really worried.
RB TreVeyon Henderson: As opposed to when I first saw Sony Michel on the practice field, you can see the talent from the Ohio State back immediately. He has burst, great balance, hands, and body control. The most impressive thing I saw was when he was lined up to Maye's left in the shotgun, the rookie saw a slot blitz coming from Marcus Jones and seamlessly crossed the formation and picked it up. Rookies usually can't do that at this stage. No redshirt for him.
LT Will Campbell: Liked the footwork and his ability to block on the move. Of course, need to see him in pads and with the DL at close to full go and not stopping after three steps.
OL Jack Conley: The UDFA out of BC looks the part and showed off his G/T versatility. Good way to make the team.
OG Sidy Sow: He looked improved and stronger after a year to forget, but I might be wrong about that. Waiting on pads.
TE Gee Scott: The UDFA is basically a carbon copy with Jaheim Bell and Scott stood out a lot more.
WR Demario Douglas: I thought Pop looked really good and comfortable in this offense.
WR Kendrick Bourne: Seems to have matured a bit in this offense the second time around and is more on point with assignments.
WR Efton Chism: Born to play in this offense. All he does is get open and catch the ball.
CB Christian Gonzalez: Stronger stud.
CB Isaiah Bolden: Always seemed to be around the ball.
CB Alex Austin: Like Bolden, continues to get his hands on a lot of balls.
CB Marcellas Dial: Keeps showing up on plays.
DT Christian Barmore: Looked to be in phenomenal shape.
DT Milton Williams: Gets a lot of movement even if he was bored waiting for the pads to come on.
Edge Keion White: This guy is going to be a gamewrecker in this defense.
LB Robert Spillane: Looks like he's always been her at MLB.
LBs Monty Rice, Cam Riley: Both are young and unheralded, but they were very active and in the middle of many plays.
S Craig Woodson: The more I saw him, the more I liked him - probably why the Patriots were so sold on him. Smart, great anticipation, gets in throwing lanes. He's going to push for time.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: Unspectacular, but assignment-sure. You can do worse, and the Patriots have at times (remember when the Pats were sending out the likes of Sergio Brown and Josh Barrett early in the 2011 season?).
S Dell Pettus: Keeps showing up on plays and has shown he can play in this league. Will it be here?
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
Cole Strange
WORK TO DO
OL Caeden Wallace: There was a shortage of guards so it may have been a numbers game, but having a former third-round pick move into guard for minicamp wasn't a great sign to me. If he was pushing for a swing tackle spot, wouldn't they just leave him there and move someone like Demontrey Jacobs inside? Multiple league sources have told me he has all the physical tools to play OT in the NFL - even LT - but something is missing, like a lot of the 2024 draft class.
OG Layden Robinson: Way down the depth chart as he seemed to struggle with his assignments.
OG Cole Strange: His start to camp could make or break his spot. Can he grab hold of LG and never let go? Will need to show football IQ.
OT Demontrey Jacobs: Good kid, but looked like he picked up where he left off last year. That's not great.
C Garrett Bradbury: Might be the guy I worry the most about on this roster. Will be interesting to see if they give Jared Wilson a chance to take the job, and how much they put him at left guard. That might need to happen.
TE CJ Dippre: Has a chance to win a role as a UDFA but I wasn't overly impressed. His blocking in pads could boost his profile and shot.
TE Jaheim Bell: Another teetering member of the 2024 draft class (there's a lot of them).
WR Javon Baker: Made one really nice catch but was relatively quiet otherwise.
CB Carlton Davis: He wasn't out there a ton, but when he was, he was getting beat - often by Pop Douglas.
Edge Anfernee Jennings: Still a really good, solid player but I'm still not sure about his fit.
LB Marte Mapu: Just. Can't. Stay. On. The. Field.
LBs Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens: Another spot that keeps me up nights. Decent enough athletes but I want better (haven't I been saying this for years, at least back to Jamie Collins?).
S Marcus Epps: Coming back from ACL surgery so he has a ways to go, but the initial impressions didn't stand out.
