I was not present for the third day of Patriots' mini-camp last week (Day 2 was a nothingburger) after Mike Vrabel changed the dates (a first in my 25 years covering the league), but let's just say I've been caught up by various sources, which I appreciate. Here's the result of that intel, starting with a few contractual issues:
• Christian Gonzalez: I would be surprised if this situation doesn't bleed into training camp, at the very least. From what I understand, the Patriots, unless Gonzalez's camp comes to them with some sort of compromise in the interim, are putting this on the back burner until right before camp.
We still don't know how this regime operates compared to the previous one, but the Patriots have a history of not doing deals early unless they get something in return. They have three more years of control of Gonzalez: 2026, 2027 fifth-year option, and 2028 franchise tag. The compromise is to give Gonzalez a modest raise for this season and then use the fifth-year option and franchise tag as the structure of an extension. I'm sure the Patriots would be on board. The question is, would Gonzalez's camp? If they are expecting a new contract that starts with big money this year, I think Gonzalez will be waiting a while, or traded.
Just for reference, because it's gotten a bit out of control with perspective on when extensions were given out for the top corners, here's the cash they were paid in years 4/5:
Trent McDuffie KC/LAR: $2.6 million 4th year/$22 million 5th year
Sauce Gardner IND: $625K/$25.5 million
Derek Stingley HOU: $26.4 million/$22 million
Jaycee Horn CAR: $3.5 million/$30 million
Jalen Ramsey LAR: $2.35 million/$26 million
Patrick Surtain DEN: $18.5 million/$22.1 million
Daron Bland DAL: $23.3 million/$13 million
A.J. Terrell ATL: $2.5 million/$28 million
Christian Gonzalez NE (schedule): $2.8 million/$18 million
To recap: a) it is not out of the ordinary at all for Gonzalez to play this season on his rookie deal, as previously 5 of the top 8 corners have done just that; b) only 2 out of 8 were PAID in the fourth year of their rookie deal, and I'd chalk that up to Houston not having really anyone else to pay, and the Cowboys being idiots as usual.
Given that perspective, I think we can relax on all the hyperbole that the Patriots MUST pay Gonzalez this offseason at the top of the market. That's not the case at all.
• As for Gabe Jacas' absence from the Patriots' offseason, I would put it down as mild irritation on behalf of the team. Unless you had irrational high hopes for a rookie second-rounder, Jacas was only going to be the fourth or fifth (competing with a more professional Bradyn Swinson) pass rusher - basically, a designated depth pass rusher like Josh Uche as a rookie. There's plenty of time in camp for Jacas to learn that role, which essentially breaks down to: "go get the ball." The Patriots feel great about Harold Landry, Dre'Mont Jones and they love Elijah Ponder. Jacas is not playing over any of those players, even if he were healthy (and he needs work, which doesn't happen until pads are put on a week into camp).
The question I have is, who is withholding the participation agreement? Mike Reiss' reporting sounds like the Patriots - "not being given a standard "participation agreement" from the Patriots." But I'm starting to doubt whether Jacas has completed a physical for the Patriots, so it might be on his side as well (they don't want to disclose something). It's going to be moot come camp, because he's going to have to pass that physical and conditioning test to get on the field.
As always, these things always resolve themselves in time.
THREE UP FROM MINICAMP/OTAS
1. Drake Maye: He's just carrying himself differently this season, which should be expected now that he's been with Josh McDaniels for a year. He's in complete command at the line. He's very calm, decisive, his ball placement has been terrific, and he's playing with a cockiness. As I was told during OTAs, the Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks may be the best thing to ever happen to him. He's studied that thoroughly and has been correcting his shortcomings. His motion seems a little tighter this year, which was needed against the better defenses.
2. Alijah Vera-Tucker: The Patriots are absolutely raving about AVT behind the scenes, and they are right to be. I was told that he requested to have his team reps upped during minicamp, which the team allowed. His foot and hand quickness has stood out. There was a red zone screen on Day 3 to Rhamondre Stevenson where AVT got to the second and third level quickly, and it was absolutely textbook how he took his angles on the eventual TD. If healthy, AVT might single-handedly bring back the screen to the Patriots.
3. A.J. Brown: He looks healthy, rejuvenated and already looks like he's been working with Maye for a while. Their backshoulders on third down and in the red zone are going to be impossible to stop. He's as advertised so far, and it's still ridiculously early in his tenure.
THREE DOWN (AND I'M NITPICKING)
1. Tommy DeVito: He hasn't been bad or anything, but he has a ways to go in terms of his timing, decisiveness and ball placement in this scheme. I don't rule out Behren Morton getting a chance to compete, but that's a ways down the road.
2. Robert Spillane: He's coming off an offseason procedure, so he's not 100%, and it was strictly a passing camp, so his brilliance against the run can easily be forgotten, but he got burned badly on passing TDs to Stevenson and Hunter Henry on the same routes.
3. Romeo Doubs: Improved just about every day, so his arrow is pointing up, but he hasn't set the world on fire. There's nothing about his game that blows you away. I'm not worried. He's coming from a completely different scheme and needs to develop more chemistry with Maye, which is to be expected.
Much more to come in a few days.