The Patriots’ first day off of training camp offered the chance to run through four days of notes and decide which players have provided the biggest impact thus far. Keep in mind these practices still are swayed toward offensive success as front-seven defensive players continue to find their groove with the physical element. Here are the top 10 players who have made their presence known through four practices.
1. Tom Brady
Impact: Brady has been at the top of his game with his accuracy. He never lightens up, either, corralling his pass-catchers for extra side sessions during special teams periods and going through the route tree with Rob Gronkowski after a couple of workouts.
Eye-opener: Brady dropped four dimes into his receivers’ hands in the back corner of the end zone on Thursday. Julian Edelman, Kenbrell Thompkins, Danny Amendola and Michael Hoomanawanui were covered tightly, too, but Brady cracked the small window each time.
Skinny: Brady has a great chance to win his third MVP award if Gronkowski plays the majority of the season.
2. Darrelle Revis
Impact: Revis instantly became a force when the Pats donned the pads and started hitting in practice. He is the real deal, and the repaired knee is a distant memory.
Eye-opener: Revis’ Saturday session was the most dominant individual performance of camp, as he intercepted two Brady passes intended for Edelman and broke up two more tosses.
Skinny: If Revis keeps this up, and there’s no reason to think he won’t, the Patriots could have a top-five defense this season.
3. Julian Edelman
Impact: Edelman has been Brady’s go-to guy once again, especially in the two-minute offense. They’re on a different level together.
Eye-opener: Edelman caught three of Brady’s six completions during the hurry-up portion Saturday, including two against Revis.
Skinny: It seems improbable Edelman could catch 100 passes again because of Gronkowski’s return and the young receivers’ development, but Brady looks for him so much that it’s foolish to rule out another huge year.
4. Shane Vereen
Impact: Vereen catches everything out of the backfield, and his timing with Brady on sideline routes appears to be even better. He is an actual check-down weapon.
Eye-opener: Vereen made a leaping catch over linebacker James Anderson in the corner of the end zone.
Skinny: Vereen almost certainly won’t lead the Pats in carries, but he might lead running backs in snaps. With the fortune of good health, he’s a legitimate candidate to catch 70 passes this season.
5. Kenbrell Thompkins
Impact: Thompkins’ consistency really has improved in his second camp. Brady has admitted to developing a great deal of trust in him.
Eye-opener: Thompkins beat Revis on a crossing route in the back of the end zone for a touchdown during Friday’s practice, even overcoming a tug on the jersey.
Skinny: He’s making a hard push to be the No. 1 outside receiver.
6. Chandler Jones
Impact: Jones has been at his best during full-speed one-on-ones. Expect him to ratchet it up next week in joint practices with the Redskins.
Eye-opener: Jones treated Nate Solder like a hologram during a one-on-one battle Sunday.
Skinny: Healthy and in great shape thanks to his offseason training, it’s not unrealistic to think he could approach 15 sacks this season.
7. Jamie Collins
Impact: Collins clearly bulked up this offseason with the intention of playing three downs, and he plays with a nice dose of nastiness.
Eye-opener: He has been unbeatable during one-on-one, semi-tackling drills, including a thumping he put on running back James White on Saturday.
Skinny: Collins was one of the Pats’ best defensive players down the stretch and will be an asset in coverage as well as with opportunistic blitzing. He’s a consensus breakout candidate.
8. Brandon Browner
Impact: Browner casts a shadow over most receivers. He still gets beat his share of times, but the physicality obviously is intriguing.
Eye-opener: Browner knocked White on his rear with the loudest hit of camp Sunday.
Skinny: Browner’s style will suit the defense perfectly once he returns from a four-game suspension.
9. Danny Amendola
Impact: Amendola has been a steady presence in the slot and has made a number of tough catches in tight spots. Healthy again, he looks like a quality slot target.
Eye-opener: Amendola beat Kyle Arrington on a deep post Friday, showing his speed when healthy.
Skinny: Last year at this time, Amendola looked like a legitimate 100-catch receiver. Then he got hurt. Take the good while it lasts, as Amendola’s injury history can’t be ignored.
10. James White
Impact: White has gotten a lot of quality reps with the first team and has shown some nice ability on the ground and in the passing game.
Eye-opener: White caught a pair of passes during Brady’s two-minute march Saturday. Earlier in the session, he split through the front seven on a nice run in 11-on-11s.
Skinny: White is often compared to Vereen, which is fair, but he will challenge Stevan Ridley for carries, too. White is primed for a lot of action as a rookie.
