{"id":60556,"date":"2025-06-12T09:23:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T13:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=60556"},"modified":"2025-06-12T09:45:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T13:45:26","slug":"mini-camp-highlights-and-other-transactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/06\/12\/mini-camp-highlights-and-other-transactions\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: Patriots Mini Camp Highlights and Other Transactions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mini Camp Day 1 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Absent:\u00a0 OG Wes Schweitzer and OG Tyreese Robinson<\/p>\n

Limited: Stephon WR Diggs, S Kyle Dugger, WR Ja\u2019Lynn Polk, OG Michael Onwenu, TE Austin Hooper, OT Vederian Lowe, OC Jared Wilson, DT Jaquelin Roy<\/p>\n

Non-Participants but in Attendance: WR Mack Hollins, LB Jahlani Tavai, CB Myles Battle<\/p>\n

According to Head Coach Mike Vrabel, everyone was in attendance for mandatory Mini-Camp.\u00a0 We learned today that Wes Schweitzer has retired from the NFL.<\/p>\n

Drake Maye had a terrific 1st day of mini-camp, following up on the good practice from the last OTA that was open to the media. Maye went 14-18 in team drills against the 1st<\/sup> team Defense.\u00a0 \u00a0He went on to throw 3 TDs in Red Zone plays on 8 pass attempts.\u00a0 The 1st<\/sup> was to Treveyon Henderson. The 2nd<\/sup> to Pop Douglas and the 3rd to Kendrick Bourne. \u00a0An observation from Evan Lazar was a deep comeback pass to Kayshon Boutte that Maye threw with anticipation, throwing the ball before Boutte made his cut and hit him on the numbers.<\/p>\n

I will also note two videos I saw of the practice where Efton Chism had an absolutely ridiculous arrow route. Selling his inside cut, stopping and going back in the opposite direction.\u00a0 Also, Stephon Diggs did participate in route running in position drills and his cutting ability, coming off ACL surgery, has been absolutely fantastic.\u00a0 He has not been cleared by the doctors for full participation.\u00a0 However, he is way ahead of schedule coming off his surgery.\u00a0 I would not be surprised to see Diggs ready to play for Game 1.<\/p>\n

Kyle Williams had the play of the day with a 50-yard TD bomb from Josh Dobbs where he split the safeties.\u00a0 Williams ran the seam, beating a linebacker against two high safeties.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Wes Schweitzer Retires<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 9-year journeyman lineman was signed as a Free Agent to a low-cost deal.\u00a0 \u00a0He played in 90 games and started 62 games for Atlanta, Washington, and New York Jets.\u00a0 The 6\u20194\u201d, 300-pound Offensive Guard was in competition for the starting Left Guard position and was taking reps with the first team.\u00a0 I have no idea if an injury was involved in the Schweitzer decision to retire.<\/p>\n

Cole Strange has also been with the first team at left Guard.\u00a0 Evan Lazar of Patriots.com pointed out that Caedan Wallace has been working at Left Guard.\u00a0 Going into camp, the Left Guard competition is wide open.\u00a0 To me it is a little disconcerting that the Patriots have this chaos at Left Guard while they are trying to bring along a rookie Left Tackle.\u00a0 Jared Wilson has not practiced since being drafted, but he played Guard at Georgia before making the switch to Center last week.<\/p>\n

Evan Lazar stated Will Campbell had a strong practice, not giving up any sacks, and having a great pickup of an inside spin move by K\u2019Lavon Chaisson.\u00a0 This was one of the moves that Campbell had issues with at LSU.<\/p>\n

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\"Jun<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Defense<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Keon White has another would be sack.\u00a0 This was against Garrett Bradbury not picking up the DE\/DT stunt up the middle.\u00a0 White came in clean.\u00a0 That\u2019s 3 sacks in the last 3 open practices.\u00a0 The first two were against rookie Will Campbell.<\/p>\n

Drake Maye is not shying away from throwing at Christian Gonzalez.\u00a0 Maye is going up against a Defense that we think will be a top 10 defense.\u00a0 In Tuesday\u2019s practice, Maye threw an interception to Gonzalez, but according to Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal, it was a great play by Gonzalez against Kyle Williams.\u00a0 Gonzalez made a great one-handed catch, going step-for-step with Williams.\u00a0 This can only make Maye a better QB.<\/p>\n

In Day two of minicamp, the Defense introduced some different pressure looks and stunts to give Maye different looks.\u00a0 There were also a bunch of false starts on both sides of the ball.\u00a0 They used loud music and ran no-huddle to simulate being on the road.<\/p>\n

Update to the Patriots Scouting Department<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tony Kinkela has been promoted from within to the position of Director of College Scouting, replacing the recently departed Cam Williams.<\/p>\n

Kinkela came to New England in 2022 after spending 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an area scout. \u00a0Kinkela had served as the Patriots’ national scout for the West region prior to his promotion.\u00a0 He is a graduate of Washington State, the same school as Patriots 3rd<\/sup> round pick Kyle Williams.<\/p>\n

This was 1st<\/sup> reported by Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated.<\/p>\n

New Position Created in the Analytics<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Patriots poached an up-and-coming analyst from the San Francisco 49ers for the Analytics department.\u00a0 Mark Daniels from Mass Live reported the Pats had hired Ekene Olekanma as the Director of Coaching Analytics.\u00a0 For the last two years, Olekanma served as the 49ers Football R&D Coordinator.<\/p>\n

In an ESPN poll back in 2024, SF was voted as the #1 team in the league for the use of Analytics.\u00a0 Additionally, as part of the survey, people were asked to name Analytics experts that would make a good General Manager and Olekanma was named as one of 14 analysts that would make a good GM.<\/p>\n

Mike Vrabel is following the script of the Packer Way in building his organization by going out and hiring the best talent available.\u00a0 He identified a weakness and has dedicated staffing assets to Analytics.\u00a0 John \u201cStretch\u201d Streicher was hired as Vice President of Football Operations.\u00a0 In-house resources already included Richard Miller as Director of Research and Marshall Oium, who was promoted last year to Director of Football Strategy.<\/p>\n

PATRIOTS PUBLIC TRAINING CAMP<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The dates and times for 2025\u00a0New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0training camp are now on the calendar.<\/p>\n

In a press release on Tuesday, the Patriots announced the schedule for Training Camp.\u00a0 The Veteran players will report back to Gillette Stadium on July 22.\u00a0 The first dozen practices will be open to the public.\u00a0 Gates will open at 9:15 a.m. ET.\u00a0 One of these practices will be held in-stadium and will be open to season ticket holders and Foxboro residents only.<\/p>\n

Further down the line for head coach Mike Vrabel\u2019s roster, a joint practice with the\u00a0Washington Commanders\u00a0will be conducted in Foxborough on Aug. 6 leading up to the 7:30 p.m. ET\u00a0preseason opener\u00a0on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n

SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wednesday, July 23<\/p>\n