PATRIOTS NEWS 2026 Training Camp - Week 1

[Family]

More opportunities for Westover.. he's not a FB so maybe with more opportunities to carve out the 3rd TE depth spot behind Henry and Raridon would be a great opportunity for him.

They keep signing JAG tight ends.

TE is very thin.

 

[Wozzy]

They keep signing JAG tight ends.

TE is very thin.

There’s nobody else out there but undrafted guys to kick the tires on.

They probably want to see what they have in Dippre and Raridon before they commit a lot of money to an old broken down guy.

 

[Real fan 02]

They keep signing JAG tight ends.

TE is very thin.

In a perfect world Raridon produces with his opportunities behind henry that alone would make TE much less of a Concern.

 

[Real fan 02]

Banking? Nah, I already said I expect Ponder to become a stud who pushes for a starting role regardless of where Landry is at. I also think Swinson is not to be completely written off.

They brought Dremont Jones in so they’d have another DE to rotate with Milton Williams and provides them a lot of 4/3 versatility. They now have two guys they can move inside on speed packages, but who can play traditional DE roles if they’re thin at OLB.

Jacas will sign his deal and eventually get out there. He was starting this season slowly no matter what coming off injury, so not being there now isn’t really hampering him. He was rehabbing regardless and his position doesn’t change much from college other than the level of competition.

All that being said, I expect Landry by week one. He doesn’t need a lot of practice at his age, he doesn’t need to learn the system… he simply needs to rehab and be ready to play.

Woozy I'll agree there on Ponder because myself I started to take note last season and coach Mike Smith was raving about his development and potential as the season wore on.. Personally I feel even with Jacas on the roster once his situation gets finalized that the starting edges will be Ponder and Jones come week 1 in Seattle. Landry is a Vet already knows the system and there no need to rush him back if he's not fully recovered. The more opportunities for guys like Ponder and Swinson the better.

 

[1960Pats]

Not going to lie, I love the dog adoption day theme stuff.

One of my favorite dog videos can't be shown here, but there are others.

 

[n1997y]

It's seemingly a pure contact Matter now.. not really sure what the impediment is.. I don't see RK haggling over a few pennies from a rook contract that is already itemized by the CBA..

It seems the hang up now must be because it’s become personal for someone. I wonder if Eliot is punishing Jacas’ agent for not rolling over and signing Gonzo yet.

 

[Wozzy]

Woozy I'll agree there on Ponder because myself I started to take note last season and coach Mike Smith was raving about his development and potential as the season wore on.. Personally I feel even with Jacas on the roster once his situation gets finalized that the starting edges will be Ponder and Jones come week 1 in Seattle. Landry is a Vet already knows the system and there no need to rush him back if he's not fully recovered. The more opportunities for guys like Ponder and Swinson the better.

Ponder was already ahead of Jacas on the depth chart regardless of injury, contract or draft position. Jacas starts at the back of the line.

Ponder beat out drafted Swinson along with everyone else for that backup job. Football is a meritocracy, everyone earns everything they get… at least on the good teams.

Get Ponder stronger and smarter this year and you already have a stud starting OLB. He’s a great athlete, small school means nothing… Matt Judon came from a small school.

 

[Real fan 02]

Ponder was already ahead of Jacas on the depth chart regardless of injury, contract or draft position. Jacas starts at the back of the line.

Ponder beat out drafted Swinson along with everyone else for that backup job. Football is a meritocracy, everyone earns everything they get… at least on the good teams.

Get Ponder stronger and smarter this year and you already have a stud starting OLB. He’s a great athlete, small school means nothing… Matt Judon came from a small school.

Swinson has potential but needed to get his body right and mature a bit more as a player. Ponder I can't speak enough on as he's getting the first team reps and having Williams, Barmore, Durden on the defensive front will allow him ample opportunity to set the edge. I like his instincts, his play style and his toughness. Kid has all the tools.

 

[Real fan 02]

It seems the hang up now must be because it’s become personal for someone. I wonder if Eliot is punishing Jacas’ agent for not rolling over and signing Gonzo yet.

Good points.. last I heard on from Giardi on his podcast.. the teams not happy with Jacas electing to have a procedure done right after being drafted so it's affecting his availability to the team. Additionally these 2nd round picks have gotten really tough with contracts.. Hendo was a late signing last season and So wasn't Higgins in Houston as well as others.. we know Gabe will hit the field at some point this camp. The benefit here is guys that were here last season Ponder, Swinson will have many reps to solidly spots. Once Gabe is here he can slowly acclimate and not have to be so heavily relied upon.

 

[Real fan 02]

Good points.. last I heard on from Giardi on his podcast.. the teams not happy with Jacas electing to have a procedure done right after being drafted so it's affecting his availability to the team. Additionally these 2nd round picks have gotten really tough with contracts.. Hendo was a late signing last season and So wasn't Higgins in Houston as well as others.. we know Gabe will hit the field at some point this camp. The benefit here is guys that were here last season Ponder, Swinson will have many reps to solidly spots. Once Gabe is here he can slowly acclimate and not have to be so heavily relied upon.

@n1997y

Forgot on Gonzo's Deal he and Witherspoon have the same agent.. supposed Witherspoon is close to signing..

 

[jimnance]

@n1997y

Forgot on Gonzo's Deal he and Witherspoon have the same agent.. supposed Witherspoon is close to signing..

Reading the tea leaves Madame Nostrildama
told me Gonzo will sign immediately after Witherspooon does

 

[Triumph]

In a perfect world Raridon produces with his opportunities behind henry that alone would make TE much less of a Concern.

Dude is tall 6' - 7" and kinda lanky @ 245.

 

[n1997y]

Reading the tea leaves Madame Nostrildama
told me Gonzo will sign immediately after Witherspooon does

I started wondering if Gonzo would be signing soon, now that Jacas has signed. They share the same agent. And now that Kraft has made his comments I think it may indicate they have a deal worked out. Could it be that Gonzo signs first and Witherspoon follows? I’m suspecting that whichever one signs first will end up getting the smaller dollar amount. Although they might structure the contracts so it’s more an apples and oranges comparison. Either way it seems Gonzo is close to a done deal.

 

[jimnance]

I started wondering if Gonzo would be signing soon, now that Jacas has signed. They share the same agent. And now that Kraft has made his comments I think it may indicate they have a deal worked out. Could it be that Gonzo signs first and Witherspoon follows? I’m suspecting that whichever one signs first will end up getting the smaller dollar amount. Although they might structure the contracts so it’s more an apples and oranges comparison. Either way it seems Gonzo is close to a done deal.

If Gonzo signs first and Witherspoon gets a bigger contract, done be surprised if Kraft then alters Gonzo's contract to make him higher-paid than Witherspoon.
Which h would only be right.
The Seattle cb is good but not in the same class as Gonzo.
Nobody really is. That's not being a homer, that's doing a deep dive on all the top cbs.
Nobody has consistently shut down more top wrs than Gonzo.

Nobody has performed as well as Gonzo in big situations.
Along with being the best cover corner in the nfl, he's also the toughest among all the top 5 cbs.
I'd like to see any of the others duplicate what Gonzo did to the biggest, strongest,baddest rb in the league: Derek Henry. Henry had busted through the dl and had a full head of steam and was going to rumble fir a huge gain. Gonzo said " sorry, homey not on my watch" and dropped him to the turf with a great tackle.
He has consistently been a willing and excellent run tackler.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

If Gonzo signs first and Witherspoon gets a bigger contract, done be surprised if Kraft then alters Gonzo's contract to make him higher-paid than Witherspoon.
Which h would only be right.
The Seattle cb is good but not in the same class as Gonzo.
Nobody really is. That's not being a homer, that's doing a deep dive on all the top cbs.
Nobody has consistently shut down more top wrs than Gonzo.

Nobody has performed as well as Gonzo in big situations.
Along with being the best cover corner in the nfl, he's also the toughest among all the top 5 cbs.
I'd like to see any of the others duplicate what Gonzo did to the biggest, strongest,baddest rb in the league: Derek Henry. Henry had busted through the dl and had a full head of steam and was going to rumble fir a huge gain. Gonzo said " sorry, homey not on my watch" and dropped him to the turf with a great tackle.
He has consistently been a willing and excellent run tackler.

I love Gonzo, but let's not completely underestimate Spoon.
He's smaller, but a tough SOB, very willing tackler and good blitzer.
Different players, but Spoon is a very good player.

 

[Real fan 02]

I started wondering if Gonzo would be signing soon, now that Jacas has signed. They share the same agent. And now that Kraft has made his comments I think it may indicate they have a deal worked out. Could it be that Gonzo signs first and Witherspoon follows? I’m suspecting that whichever one signs first will end up getting the smaller dollar amount. Although they might structure the contracts so it’s more an apples and oranges comparison. Either way it seems Gonzo is close to a done deal.

The only leverage Witherspoon has is that hes won a superbowl. Otherwise we all know Gonzo's a much better player. Very, very intriguing that they both have the same agent .

 

[jimnance]

I love Gonzo, but let's not completely underestimate Spoon.
He's smaller, but a tough SOB, very willing tackler and good blitzer.
Different players, but Spoon is a very good player.

I was certainly not underestimating Spoon.
I posted that he was a good player but not in Gonzo's class. Which he's not.
Spoon is also not as good as Stingly or Surtain.
But you can make the argument he's better than Sauce.
Gardner is overrated, because he was in NY. He's decent, but not elite.