The Patriots’ abbreviated offseason is officially over. Organized team activities begin this week on the practice fields behind the Patriots’ New Balance Athletics Center facility.
With voluntary OTAs comes the start of positional battles. In a rare occurrence, most Patriots starting spots can be assumed in late May.
Barring injuries and assuming a major trade, we’ll likely see QB Drake Maye, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR A.J. Brown, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Kayshon Boutte, TE Hunter Henry, LT Will Campbell, LG Alijah Tucker, C Jared Wilson, RG Mike Onwenu and RT Morgan Moses on offense and OLB Harold Landry III, OLB Dre’Mont Jones, DT Milton Williams, DT Christian Barmore, LB Robert Spillane, LB Christian Elliss, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis III, CB Marcus Jones, S Kevin Byard and S Craig Woodson on defense.
But there are still roles to be decided.
Here are five positional battles we’re watching this spring.
THIRD RUNNING BACK
Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson will essentially share the starting running back role. There are four players competing for the third spot on the roster.
Jam Miller is a seventh-round pick out of Alabama. Myles Montgomery is a priority undrafted free agent out of UCF. Lan Larison missed last season after coming out of UC-Davis as a highly-touted rookie free agent. And Terrell Jennings remains on the roster after spending part of last season as the Patriots’ third running back.
New England Patriots running back Jam Miller during a drill as the Patriots hold rookie minicamp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
There’s really no favorite for the third spot. Miller might have a slight edge as a drafted player, and Jennings might get first crack at the role as a veteran player.
STARTING WIDE RECEIVER
Brown has not been acquired from the Eagles yet, leaving the Patriots with Doubs, Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism, Jeremiah Webb, Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro, Jimmy Kibble and Cameron Dorner at wide receiver.
There are a few things yet to be determined in this group. First, will Boutte even be at OTAs, which are voluntary to attend? Boutte wasn’t in attendance for the start of the voluntary offseason workout program last month. If he is there, then we’ll likely see Doubs, Boutte and Hollins as the three starting wide receivers, but will the Patriots give Williams, a 2025 third-round pick, a chance to grab one of those spots immediately out of the gate?
And if Brown is acquired, then will Boutte take the third starting spot? Or will Hollins, Williams or someone else earn it?
If the Patriots acquire Brown and keep Boutte, then there will likely be an odd-man out in this positional group, as well, if the team keeps just six wide receivers. Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins and Williams all seem safe. So, the sixth spot seems like it would come down to Douglas, Chism, Webb, Dixon, DeGennaro, Kibble and Dorner.
BACKUP LINEBACKER
The Patriots released linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu and elected not to re-sign Jack Gibbens as a restricted free agent this offseason. The team currently has K.J. Britt, Chad Muma, sixth-round pick Namdi Obiazor, Amari Gainer, Otis Reese and UDFA Khalil Jacobs behind Spillane and Elliss.
On the surface, it looks like a somewhat concerning lack of depth at a position where Spillane and Elliss both missed time last season.
Britt is the favorite to serve as the Patriots’ third linebacker, but he’ll see competition from Muma, Obiazor and Jacobs.
DEPTH DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The Patriots also erased depth at defensive tackle this offseason, losing Khyiris Tonga in free agency to the Chiefs.
That leaves Cory Durden, Leonard Taylor III, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., and UDFAs David Blay Jr. and Travis Shaw as depth behind Williams and Barmore.
Durden will serve as the team’s third defensive tackle, and after last year’s postseason run, Taylor feels pretty safe for a roster spot, as well. So we’ll see players like Farmer and Gregory battle it out for a fifth depth spot.
BACKUP OUTSIDE CORNERBACK
The Patriots have one of the best starting cornerback trios in the NFL in Gonzalez, Davis and Jones. No other cornerback on the roster is necessarily guaranteed a roster spot, however.
Charles Woods, Kindle Vildor, fifth-round pick Karon Prunty and UDFA Channing Canada are options to play outside behind Gonzalez and Davis. Marcellas Dial, Brandon Crossley and UDFA Kenneth Harris are slot options.
Woods fared well as the Patriots’ backup outside cornerback last season in limited action. Prunty has an enticing combination of athleticism and length. Canada also received $267,500 in contract guarantees as a UDFA. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at 6-feet, 190 pounds at TCU’s pro day this spring. He was a two-year starter at TCU.
