WR Mack Hollins, TE Austin Hooper, OT Vederian Lowe and LB Jahlani Tavai are opening camp on active\/PUP list.\u00a0 Tavai, we knew, had a calf issue.\u00a0 Some are already projecting him to start the season on the PUP.\u00a0 Mack Hollins didn\u2019t participate in any of the OTAs or Mini Camp.\u00a0 He was present in street clothes on the sideline and was noticeable working with the younger players.\u00a0 I have not read anything about what type of injury is keeping Hollins off the field.<\/p>\n
Austin Hooper and Vederian Lowe missed time this spring and are also listed with undisclosed injuries.\u00a0 All four players could come off the list as soon as they get medically cleared.<\/p>\n
Non-Football Injury List<\/strong><\/h3>\nCB Carlton Davis III, S Josh Minkins, and WR Jeremiah Webb are on active\/non-football list. According to Mike Reiss, \u201cThis means they are not yet cleared to practice. Can change at any time\u201d.\u00a0 The fact that Carlton Davis is on the Non-Football Injury list is a concern.\u00a0 It\u2019s well-documented that Davis has never played a full season in his seven years in the NFL.<\/p>\n
Injury Recovery<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe fact that Stephon Diggs<\/strong> is not on either list is great news.\u00a0 This means he should be available for full participation in practice starting on Wednesday.\u00a0 The Athletics\u2019 Chad Graff wrote about Diggs this week. \u201cIt always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the season on the physically unable to perform list (meaning he\u2019d be out at least the first four games), but perhaps the optimism from his spring performances can translate to an increased role in camp and maybe even open the door for Diggs to open the season on the Week 1 roster.\u201d\u00a0 It appears that Graff was, fortunately, wrong about Diggs.<\/p>\nKyle Dugger<\/strong> had a disastrous season last year.\u00a0 He valiantly tried to play through a misdiagnosed High Ankle Sprain and essentially played on one leg.\u00a0 His return should be monitored, and it’s still possible he could be put on the PUP list.\u00a0 He had off-season tightrope surgery to tighten up the ligaments in the ankle.<\/p>\nJared Wilson<\/strong> missed all the OTA workouts and Mini Camp.\u00a0 There is no report of an injury he is dealing with, so it is encouraging that he was not listed on either list.\u00a0 Wilson was treated for Achilles Tendonitis prior to the start of the season at Georgia.\u00a0 He also sustained a lower leg injury late in the game against Alabama and missed the next two games.\u00a0 I am not concerned by that injury because he ran an incredible 4.84 40-yard dash at the Combine.<\/p>\nMarcus Epps<\/strong>, signed as a Free Agent in the off-season, is recovering from a knee injury in Week 3 last season.\u00a0 The ACL surgery cost him the remainder of the season with the Raiders.\u00a0 He was listed on either list, which is great news.<\/p>\nJa\u2019Lynn Polk<\/strong> had off-season shoulder surgery.\u00a0 He was limited in the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 Polk would do some of the ER drills but never participated in the 11 on 11 part of practice.\u00a0 His shoulder didn\u2019t appear to be his problem.\u00a0 The mental part of the game was his problem.\u00a0 He had too many missed assignments and jumped offside for dead-ball penalties.\u00a0 The Pro game appeared to be too fast for him to process.<\/p>\nCaeden Wallace<\/strong> had a disastrous rookie season, starting at LT in week 3, getting injured the next week, and being put on IR until late December.\u00a0His injury was a High Ankle Sprain and Broken Fibula, which required surgery.\u00a0 When activated, he started at RT for the last game versus Bills but was atrocious with a 32.3 PFF grade.\u00a0 He battled injuries all through Training Camp last year.<\/p>\n![\"Cole](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/USATSI_18930829_168390408_lowres-450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCole Strange is in a key battle this preseason at guard. (PHOTO: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nCamp Battles \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe biggest Camp Battle is for the starting Left Guard<\/strong> position.\u00a0\u00a0The candidates are former 1st round pick\u00a0Cole Strange<\/strong>, last season\u2019s 4th Round (103rd) draft choice\u00a0Layden Robinson<\/strong>,\u00a0Tyrese Robinson,<\/strong> a Practice Squad player who was signed to the Patriots’ 53-man roster from Minnesota\u2019s Practice Squad.<\/span>\u00a0 Sidy Sow<\/strong> may also get a shot at the LG position.\u00a0 Jared Wilson<\/strong> played G at Georgia before he switched to Center for his final season.<\/p>\nCoach Vrabel has also stated that Wilson would be played at Center and wouldn\u2019t entertain a move to Guard in his 1st<\/sup> year.\u00a0\u00a0 An outside possibility of UDFA Jack Conley<\/strong> pushing for time at Left Guard.\u00a0 My biggest concern here is whoever is selected to start; they need to hold their own because they are playing next to a rookie Left Tackle (Campbell).\u00a0 I am hoping that the veteran Strange can handle the position and be able to help out the rookie.\u00a0 It will be interesting to see if UDFA Jack Conley gets any play at Guard.<\/p>\nThe Wide Receiver Room<\/strong> presents an interesting battle for the last couple of spots.\u00a0 The question is whether they would keep 6 or 7 WRs on the 53-man roster.\u00a0\u00a0 I am going to assume that Diggs is available week 1 and is on the 53.\u00a0 Other locks are rookie Kyle Williams<\/strong> and Free Agent signee Mack Wilson<\/strong>.\u00a0 That\u2019s 3, and there are two to four openings left.\u00a0 Veterans Kayshon Boutte, Pop Douglas,<\/strong> and Kendrick Bourne<\/strong> are in the fight for the last few receiver slots.\u00a0 Last season, 2nd and 4th-round selections Ja\u2019Lynn Polk<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Javon Baker<\/strong>\u00a0are in the fight, as is the star of the OTAs and Mini Camp UDFA\u00a0Efton Chism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n- When the pads are on, we will see who jumps out.\u00a0 Some lingering questions include:<\/li>\n
- Who can be a consistent downfield threat?<\/li>\n
- Will Chism continue to wow the fans during practice, pre-season games, and joint practices?<\/li>\n
- Is Ja\u2019Lynn Polk a complete bust?<\/li>\n
- Can Kyle Williams be that deep threat?<\/li>\n
- Does Bourne have a bounce-back season under Josh McDaniels’ tutelage?<\/li>\n
- Can Baker show enough to stay on the 53-man roster?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kayshon Boutte<\/strong> was mentioned in trade rumors all spring and leading up to the Draft.\u00a0 Is he a trade candidate?\u00a0 This telling stat is that Boutte was targeted 14 of 32 downfield passes.\u00a0 Of those 14 downfield passes, Boutte only caught 3 of them.\u00a0 Not all his fault, but not a good record on contested catches.<\/p>\nThe backup Linebacker<\/strong> competition should be interesting.\u00a0 Monty Rice<\/strong> played well in the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 Jahlani Tavai<\/strong> is still hanging on, and starts the season on PUP. \u00a0His style of play doesn\u2019t fit with the Defensive scheme that Tyrell Wiliams and Mike Vrabel want to play.\u00a0 Anfernee Jennings<\/strong> is good at holding the edge but offers nothing in the pass rush.\u00a0 Jennings was ranked 70th<\/sup> amongst Edge Rushers.\u00a0 His run stop grade was 73, but he had an 85 in 2023.\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget that Rice was a 3rd-round\u00a0selection by Vrabel in 2021.<\/p>\nI mentioned Marcus Epps<\/strong> coming back from injury.\u00a0 The last safety position should be a battle between Epps and Jaylinn Hawkins<\/strong>.\u00a0 From the reports from OTAs and Mini Camp it appears that rookie Craig Woodson<\/strong> should be the starting Free Safety.\u00a0 I want to see a pure Free Safety \/ Centerfielder out there.\u00a0 I believe that is one of the key positions of need by this defense.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to see Jabrill Peppers or Kyle Dugger back deep.\u00a0 Woodson and Hawkins both played for Cal, a college that has produced quite a few Safeties in the NFL.<\/p>\nThe final Cornerback<\/strong> spot is up for grabs between Marcus Dial<\/strong> and Isaiah Bolden<\/strong>.\u00a0 Bolden has terrific size for a cornerback.\u00a0 Dial excels on Special Teams.\u00a0 Bolden missed his entire rookie season because of injury, so last year was the rookie year for both players.\u00a0\u00a0 Carlton Davis\u2019 injury \/ NFI designation could solve this competition.\u00a0 If \/ when Davis is out, I expect that Alex Austin<\/strong> would step in.<\/p>\n![\"Brock](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_26134193_168390408_lowres-450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe third Tight End<\/strong> is going to be an interesting battle.\u00a0 If the Josh McDaniels offense features a fullback, UDFA Brock Lampe will make the team and serve as the 3rd<\/sup> TE.\u00a0\u00a0 2nd<\/sup> year players Jack Westover<\/strong> and Jaheim Bell<\/strong> have the inside track if they are going with three TEs.\u00a0 Westover is more of a blocker and Bell had a lot of drops in the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 UDFA CJ Dippre had a draft grade that said he should have been drafted, and the Patriots were lucky to get him as an UDFA.\u00a0 He is known as a very strong TE that should be good a good blocker, but he didn\u2019t show much in OTAs.<\/p>\nA possibility is that Westover, Bell, and Dippre get waived and resigned to the Practice Squad, and if the team needs a true 3rd TE, they could just elevate any one of them up to 3 times during the season.\u00a0 \u00a0Curiously, Mike Reiss\u2019 Roster Projection today lists only 2 TEs and no Fullback.\u00a0 The extra position was given to the Defensive Line.<\/p>\n
Overall, the performance of the Offensive Line<\/strong> is a key for the development of Drake Maye and the efficiency of the Josh McDaniel Offense.\u00a0 Everyone knows that McDaniels likes to run the ball.\u00a0 It\u2019s imperative they decide quickly who is going to be the starting 5 and let them gel as a cohesive unit.\u00a0 Pass Blocking is also another key.\u00a0 I hate to disappoint everyone, but I expect Will Campbell<\/strong> to be just an average Left Tackle this season.\u00a0 He should be slightly better than Vederian Lowe<\/strong> was last season.\u00a0 This is not a knock on Campbell, but just the reality of how rookie Left Tackles perform in their 1st<\/sup> year.<\/p>\nGarrett Bradbury had the worst Pass Blocking rating from PFF for a Starting Center not named Ben Brown<\/strong>.\u00a0 Bradbury\u2019s Overall ranking was 62.8, which was a true ranking of 31 (I dismissed players that started less than 6 games) and a Pass Blocking rank of 56.5, which would have been 43rd.\u00a0 Interesting to note, in the 2 games Cole Strange<\/strong> played at Center, his Pass Blocking rate of 79 would have been 6th<\/sup>.<\/p>\nI find it interesting that Steve Balestrieri and I think so much alike. \u00a0Steve is a Senior Writer here at Patsfans.com<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0This article was written last week ahead of Steve\u2019s recent Sunday News and Notes column<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 We touched upon several of the same points.<\/p>\n![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26134642_168390408_lowres-450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPlayers to Watch <\/strong><\/h3>\nMost every fan wants to see Will Campbell<\/strong>, the savior, at Left Tackle or the progress that Drake Maye<\/strong> will make.\u00a0 However, he is not the player I will be concentrating on.\u00a0 My #1 interest is D-Lineman Keon White<\/strong>. \u00a0\u00a0The 3rd<\/sup> year player enters his contract year season as an enigma.\u00a0 He seems like a player without a position and is not a good run defender, as evident by his PFF 55.3 Run Stop grade.\u00a0 That was 147th<\/sup> amongst Edge players.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t hold the edge and is not effective dropping into pass coverage either.<\/p>\nHe had 5 sacks last year, all in the 1st<\/sup> two games.\u00a0 Of his 5 sacks, they all came from the DT position and not the Edge.\u00a0 Often, he was seen flying upfield, blowing past the QB, abandoning his rush lane, and allowing the QB to escape and keep the play alive.\u00a0 This is an important year for White.\u00a0 White has stated that he finally feels comfortable and has a position coach he trusts.\u00a0 I think that Terrell Williams will take advantage of White\u2019s ability to get upfield.\u00a0 White does get high grades for his versatility as he was ranked the #4 most versatile Defensive Lineman in the league.<\/p>\nThis, according to SB Nation\u2019s Brian Hines, \u201cAfter sharing his frustration with the coaching staff down the stretch last season, White looked at home this spring along the edge in a more aggressive defensive front. He was disruptive in the non-padded sessions and has enjoyed working with the new outside linebacker coach Mike Smith, who has an extensive history of working with bigger rushers like White. A Year 3 breakout for the 26-year-old would be a game changer for New England\u2019s pass rush and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
X-Factor-\u00a0K\u2019Lavon Chaisson\u00a0 <\/strong>Brian Hines writes, \u201cChaisson was one of New England\u2019s more under-the-radar signings in free agency as his deal came four days into free agency. But the former first-rounder was a consistent part of the first-team defense this spring in a rotation along the edge with White and Landry. If he can build off his late-season success with Vegas from last season, Chaisson will bring needed juice to New England\u2019s pass rush and be one of the top bargains from free agency\u201d.\u00a0 Chaisson had 4 of his 5 sacks for the year in his last 6 games.\u00a0 I could see Chaisson as a situational pass rusher replacing Harold Landry on 3rd<\/sup> and long situations.\u00a0 Landry had a very good Run grade but was lacking as a Pass Rusher.\u00a0 Although he finished with 9 sacks. Most of those were cleanup sacks where the interior D-lineman forced the QB into the lap of Landry.<\/p>\nThere is tremendous competition in the Receiver room.\u00a0 I want to see if Efton Chism<\/strong> can hold up once the pads come on.\u00a0 He is not fast (4.71 40-yard dash), but he may be the shiftiest Wide Receiver since Julian Edelman.\u00a0 I sang the praises of Chism leading up to the East-West Shrine game.\u00a0 Melanie Freelander of Steelers Depot had this to say about Chism leading up to the game.\u00a0 \u201cHe flashes on every play.\u00a0 A late add to the roster, he has shown that he belongs here.\u00a0 He reminds me of a classic Bill Belichick era Patriots slot receiver<\/strong>.\u00a0 Good burst, quick feet, sharp cuts, and always seems to know where the ball is at all times.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0He had 120 catches for 1300 yards last season, and the only reason he wasn\u2019t drafted is that he ran a 4.71 40 at his Pro day.\u00a0 His estimated 40-time was supposed to be 4.56.\u00a0 Chism broke all the records of Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington.\u00a0 Kupp ran just a 4.62 40-yard dash.\u00a0 Chism ran a 4.77 3-cone drill and Kupp ran a 4.75.<\/p>\nCraig Woodson<\/strong> was a surprise selection with their 1st<\/sup> selection #4 (#104) in Round 4 on Day 3 of the draft.\u00a0 \u00a0The Patriots had all night after Day 2 of the draft to make their next selection, and they chose a player that ESPN had ranked #176.\u00a0 Everyone was scratching their head over this pick.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have Woodson on my radar as a player I thought the Patriots may be interested in, even though I felt that Free Safety was a position of need.\u00a0 All reports about Woodson have been favorable from reporters covering the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 I want to see a pure center fielder type free safety and everything I have seen says that Woodson has good instincts and is always in position.\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to see him play.<\/p>\nPatriots Sign Treveyon Henderson<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Patriots had no choice but to fully guarantee Henderson\u2019s contract when all the other 2nd-round picks ahead of him, including Jonah Savaiinaea, had their contracts guaranteed.\u00a0 Luther Burden, the pick after Henderson, also received a fully guaranteed contract.\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m glad they got this done, and I am excited to see Henderson in pads on Monday.\u00a0 Henderson\u2019s advanced pass-blocking skills should get him more playing time than a typical rookie running back in a Josh McDaniels offense.<\/p>\n
Patriots Add an International Pathway Program Player <\/strong><\/h3>\nDavid Olajiga is a Defensive Tackle who was in camp for the Los Angeles last year and was a member of their Practice Squad all year as an International Pathway Program player.\u00a0 Olajiga was born in London.\u00a0 The 6\u20193\u201d 319-pound DT played for Butler Community College (JUCO) and Central Missouri.\u00a0 He posted a 5.12 40-yard dash and put up 30 reps at 225# Bench Press.\u00a0 This player appears to have some potential.\u00a0 I am intrigued by his strength and whether or not it can translate to on-field production.<\/p>\n
TE Noah Fant Released by Seattle<\/strong><\/h3>\nWith Austin Hooper showing up on the PUP list and both Hunter Henry and Hooper turning 32 this season, would it be worth a flyer to get a look at Fant?\u00a0 In the last three years in Seattle, Fant has 130 catches, 1400 yards, and 5 TDs.\u00a0 He turns 28 in November.\u00a0 \u00a0At 6\u20194\u201d 249-pounds, he ran 4.50 40-yard dash.\u00a0 Fant is entering his 7th<\/sup> season in the league and was a 2nd-round selection (#20) in the 2019 Draft by Denver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Get a full preview of the 2025 Patriots Training Camp, including key injuries, surprise players, position battles, and breakout candidates as New England kicks off a new era under Mike Vrabel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":61319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[23789,23742,23466,23750,23533,23792,2303,23706,664,44,1925,23795,23791,1570,23794,23793,971,23796,23790,1865,23738],"class_list":["post-61300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news","tag-2025-patriots-training-camp","tag-craig-woodson","tag-drake-maye","tag-efton-chism","tag-jalynn-polk","tag-keon-white","tag-kyle-dugger","tag-marcus-epps","tag-mike-vrabel","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-noah-fant","tag-patriots-camp-news","tag-patriots-camp-preview","tag-patriots-defense","tag-patriots-depth-chart","tag-patriots-injury-report","tag-patriots-offensive-line","tag-patriots-position-battles","tag-patriots-roster-battles","tag-stefon-diggs","tag-treveyon-henderson"],"yoast_head":"\n
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The fact that Stephon Diggs<\/strong> is not on either list is great news.\u00a0 This means he should be available for full participation in practice starting on Wednesday.\u00a0 The Athletics\u2019 Chad Graff wrote about Diggs this week. \u201cIt always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the season on the physically unable to perform list (meaning he\u2019d be out at least the first four games), but perhaps the optimism from his spring performances can translate to an increased role in camp and maybe even open the door for Diggs to open the season on the Week 1 roster.\u201d\u00a0 It appears that Graff was, fortunately, wrong about Diggs.<\/p>\n Kyle Dugger<\/strong> had a disastrous season last year.\u00a0 He valiantly tried to play through a misdiagnosed High Ankle Sprain and essentially played on one leg.\u00a0 His return should be monitored, and it’s still possible he could be put on the PUP list.\u00a0 He had off-season tightrope surgery to tighten up the ligaments in the ankle.<\/p>\n Jared Wilson<\/strong> missed all the OTA workouts and Mini Camp.\u00a0 There is no report of an injury he is dealing with, so it is encouraging that he was not listed on either list.\u00a0 Wilson was treated for Achilles Tendonitis prior to the start of the season at Georgia.\u00a0 He also sustained a lower leg injury late in the game against Alabama and missed the next two games.\u00a0 I am not concerned by that injury because he ran an incredible 4.84 40-yard dash at the Combine.<\/p>\n Marcus Epps<\/strong>, signed as a Free Agent in the off-season, is recovering from a knee injury in Week 3 last season.\u00a0 The ACL surgery cost him the remainder of the season with the Raiders.\u00a0 He was listed on either list, which is great news.<\/p>\n Ja\u2019Lynn Polk<\/strong> had off-season shoulder surgery.\u00a0 He was limited in the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 Polk would do some of the ER drills but never participated in the 11 on 11 part of practice.\u00a0 His shoulder didn\u2019t appear to be his problem.\u00a0 The mental part of the game was his problem.\u00a0 He had too many missed assignments and jumped offside for dead-ball penalties.\u00a0 The Pro game appeared to be too fast for him to process.<\/p>\n Caeden Wallace<\/strong> had a disastrous rookie season, starting at LT in week 3, getting injured the next week, and being put on IR until late December.\u00a0His injury was a High Ankle Sprain and Broken Fibula, which required surgery.\u00a0 When activated, he started at RT for the last game versus Bills but was atrocious with a 32.3 PFF grade.\u00a0 He battled injuries all through Training Camp last year.<\/p>\n The biggest Camp Battle is for the starting Left Guard<\/strong> position.\u00a0\u00a0The candidates are former 1st round pick\u00a0Cole Strange<\/strong>, last season\u2019s 4th Round (103rd) draft choice\u00a0Layden Robinson<\/strong>,\u00a0Tyrese Robinson,<\/strong> a Practice Squad player who was signed to the Patriots’ 53-man roster from Minnesota\u2019s Practice Squad.<\/span>\u00a0 Sidy Sow<\/strong> may also get a shot at the LG position.\u00a0 Jared Wilson<\/strong> played G at Georgia before he switched to Center for his final season.<\/p>\n Coach Vrabel has also stated that Wilson would be played at Center and wouldn\u2019t entertain a move to Guard in his 1st<\/sup> year.\u00a0\u00a0 An outside possibility of UDFA Jack Conley<\/strong> pushing for time at Left Guard.\u00a0 My biggest concern here is whoever is selected to start; they need to hold their own because they are playing next to a rookie Left Tackle (Campbell).\u00a0 I am hoping that the veteran Strange can handle the position and be able to help out the rookie.\u00a0 It will be interesting to see if UDFA Jack Conley gets any play at Guard.<\/p>\n The Wide Receiver Room<\/strong> presents an interesting battle for the last couple of spots.\u00a0 The question is whether they would keep 6 or 7 WRs on the 53-man roster.\u00a0\u00a0 I am going to assume that Diggs is available week 1 and is on the 53.\u00a0 Other locks are rookie Kyle Williams<\/strong> and Free Agent signee Mack Wilson<\/strong>.\u00a0 That\u2019s 3, and there are two to four openings left.\u00a0 Veterans Kayshon Boutte, Pop Douglas,<\/strong> and Kendrick Bourne<\/strong> are in the fight for the last few receiver slots.\u00a0 Last season, 2nd and 4th-round selections Ja\u2019Lynn Polk<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Javon Baker<\/strong>\u00a0are in the fight, as is the star of the OTAs and Mini Camp UDFA\u00a0Efton Chism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Kayshon Boutte<\/strong> was mentioned in trade rumors all spring and leading up to the Draft.\u00a0 Is he a trade candidate?\u00a0 This telling stat is that Boutte was targeted 14 of 32 downfield passes.\u00a0 Of those 14 downfield passes, Boutte only caught 3 of them.\u00a0 Not all his fault, but not a good record on contested catches.<\/p>\n The backup Linebacker<\/strong> competition should be interesting.\u00a0 Monty Rice<\/strong> played well in the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 Jahlani Tavai<\/strong> is still hanging on, and starts the season on PUP. \u00a0His style of play doesn\u2019t fit with the Defensive scheme that Tyrell Wiliams and Mike Vrabel want to play.\u00a0 Anfernee Jennings<\/strong> is good at holding the edge but offers nothing in the pass rush.\u00a0 Jennings was ranked 70th<\/sup> amongst Edge Rushers.\u00a0 His run stop grade was 73, but he had an 85 in 2023.\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget that Rice was a 3rd-round\u00a0selection by Vrabel in 2021.<\/p>\n I mentioned Marcus Epps<\/strong> coming back from injury.\u00a0 The last safety position should be a battle between Epps and Jaylinn Hawkins<\/strong>.\u00a0 From the reports from OTAs and Mini Camp it appears that rookie Craig Woodson<\/strong> should be the starting Free Safety.\u00a0 I want to see a pure Free Safety \/ Centerfielder out there.\u00a0 I believe that is one of the key positions of need by this defense.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to see Jabrill Peppers or Kyle Dugger back deep.\u00a0 Woodson and Hawkins both played for Cal, a college that has produced quite a few Safeties in the NFL.<\/p>\n The final Cornerback<\/strong> spot is up for grabs between Marcus Dial<\/strong> and Isaiah Bolden<\/strong>.\u00a0 Bolden has terrific size for a cornerback.\u00a0 Dial excels on Special Teams.\u00a0 Bolden missed his entire rookie season because of injury, so last year was the rookie year for both players.\u00a0\u00a0 Carlton Davis\u2019 injury \/ NFI designation could solve this competition.\u00a0 If \/ when Davis is out, I expect that Alex Austin<\/strong> would step in.<\/p>\n The third Tight End<\/strong> is going to be an interesting battle.\u00a0 If the Josh McDaniels offense features a fullback, UDFA Brock Lampe will make the team and serve as the 3rd<\/sup> TE.\u00a0\u00a0 2nd<\/sup> year players Jack Westover<\/strong> and Jaheim Bell<\/strong> have the inside track if they are going with three TEs.\u00a0 Westover is more of a blocker and Bell had a lot of drops in the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 UDFA CJ Dippre had a draft grade that said he should have been drafted, and the Patriots were lucky to get him as an UDFA.\u00a0 He is known as a very strong TE that should be good a good blocker, but he didn\u2019t show much in OTAs.<\/p>\n A possibility is that Westover, Bell, and Dippre get waived and resigned to the Practice Squad, and if the team needs a true 3rd TE, they could just elevate any one of them up to 3 times during the season.\u00a0 \u00a0Curiously, Mike Reiss\u2019 Roster Projection today lists only 2 TEs and no Fullback.\u00a0 The extra position was given to the Defensive Line.<\/p>\n Overall, the performance of the Offensive Line<\/strong> is a key for the development of Drake Maye and the efficiency of the Josh McDaniel Offense.\u00a0 Everyone knows that McDaniels likes to run the ball.\u00a0 It\u2019s imperative they decide quickly who is going to be the starting 5 and let them gel as a cohesive unit.\u00a0 Pass Blocking is also another key.\u00a0 I hate to disappoint everyone, but I expect Will Campbell<\/strong> to be just an average Left Tackle this season.\u00a0 He should be slightly better than Vederian Lowe<\/strong> was last season.\u00a0 This is not a knock on Campbell, but just the reality of how rookie Left Tackles perform in their 1st<\/sup> year.<\/p>\n Garrett Bradbury had the worst Pass Blocking rating from PFF for a Starting Center not named Ben Brown<\/strong>.\u00a0 Bradbury\u2019s Overall ranking was 62.8, which was a true ranking of 31 (I dismissed players that started less than 6 games) and a Pass Blocking rank of 56.5, which would have been 43rd.\u00a0 Interesting to note, in the 2 games Cole Strange<\/strong> played at Center, his Pass Blocking rate of 79 would have been 6th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n I find it interesting that Steve Balestrieri and I think so much alike. \u00a0Steve is a Senior Writer here at Patsfans.com<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0This article was written last week ahead of Steve\u2019s recent Sunday News and Notes column<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 We touched upon several of the same points.<\/p>\n Most every fan wants to see Will Campbell<\/strong>, the savior, at Left Tackle or the progress that Drake Maye<\/strong> will make.\u00a0 However, he is not the player I will be concentrating on.\u00a0 My #1 interest is D-Lineman Keon White<\/strong>. \u00a0\u00a0The 3rd<\/sup> year player enters his contract year season as an enigma.\u00a0 He seems like a player without a position and is not a good run defender, as evident by his PFF 55.3 Run Stop grade.\u00a0 That was 147th<\/sup> amongst Edge players.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t hold the edge and is not effective dropping into pass coverage either.<\/p>\n He had 5 sacks last year, all in the 1st<\/sup> two games.\u00a0 Of his 5 sacks, they all came from the DT position and not the Edge.\u00a0 Often, he was seen flying upfield, blowing past the QB, abandoning his rush lane, and allowing the QB to escape and keep the play alive.\u00a0 This is an important year for White.\u00a0 White has stated that he finally feels comfortable and has a position coach he trusts.\u00a0 I think that Terrell Williams will take advantage of White\u2019s ability to get upfield.\u00a0 White does get high grades for his versatility as he was ranked the #4 most versatile Defensive Lineman in the league.<\/p>\n This, according to SB Nation\u2019s Brian Hines, \u201cAfter sharing his frustration with the coaching staff down the stretch last season, White looked at home this spring along the edge in a more aggressive defensive front. He was disruptive in the non-padded sessions and has enjoyed working with the new outside linebacker coach Mike Smith, who has an extensive history of working with bigger rushers like White. A Year 3 breakout for the 26-year-old would be a game changer for New England\u2019s pass rush and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n X-Factor-\u00a0K\u2019Lavon Chaisson\u00a0 <\/strong>Brian Hines writes, \u201cChaisson was one of New England\u2019s more under-the-radar signings in free agency as his deal came four days into free agency. But the former first-rounder was a consistent part of the first-team defense this spring in a rotation along the edge with White and Landry. If he can build off his late-season success with Vegas from last season, Chaisson will bring needed juice to New England\u2019s pass rush and be one of the top bargains from free agency\u201d.\u00a0 Chaisson had 4 of his 5 sacks for the year in his last 6 games.\u00a0 I could see Chaisson as a situational pass rusher replacing Harold Landry on 3rd<\/sup> and long situations.\u00a0 Landry had a very good Run grade but was lacking as a Pass Rusher.\u00a0 Although he finished with 9 sacks. Most of those were cleanup sacks where the interior D-lineman forced the QB into the lap of Landry.<\/p>\n There is tremendous competition in the Receiver room.\u00a0 I want to see if Efton Chism<\/strong> can hold up once the pads come on.\u00a0 He is not fast (4.71 40-yard dash), but he may be the shiftiest Wide Receiver since Julian Edelman.\u00a0 I sang the praises of Chism leading up to the East-West Shrine game.\u00a0 Melanie Freelander of Steelers Depot had this to say about Chism leading up to the game.\u00a0 \u201cHe flashes on every play.\u00a0 A late add to the roster, he has shown that he belongs here.\u00a0 He reminds me of a classic Bill Belichick era Patriots slot receiver<\/strong>.\u00a0 Good burst, quick feet, sharp cuts, and always seems to know where the ball is at all times.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0He had 120 catches for 1300 yards last season, and the only reason he wasn\u2019t drafted is that he ran a 4.71 40 at his Pro day.\u00a0 His estimated 40-time was supposed to be 4.56.\u00a0 Chism broke all the records of Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington.\u00a0 Kupp ran just a 4.62 40-yard dash.\u00a0 Chism ran a 4.77 3-cone drill and Kupp ran a 4.75.<\/p>\n Craig Woodson<\/strong> was a surprise selection with their 1st<\/sup> selection #4 (#104) in Round 4 on Day 3 of the draft.\u00a0 \u00a0The Patriots had all night after Day 2 of the draft to make their next selection, and they chose a player that ESPN had ranked #176.\u00a0 Everyone was scratching their head over this pick.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have Woodson on my radar as a player I thought the Patriots may be interested in, even though I felt that Free Safety was a position of need.\u00a0 All reports about Woodson have been favorable from reporters covering the OTAs and Mini Camp.\u00a0 I want to see a pure center fielder type free safety and everything I have seen says that Woodson has good instincts and is always in position.\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to see him play.<\/p>\n The Patriots had no choice but to fully guarantee Henderson\u2019s contract when all the other 2nd-round picks ahead of him, including Jonah Savaiinaea, had their contracts guaranteed.\u00a0 Luther Burden, the pick after Henderson, also received a fully guaranteed contract.\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m glad they got this done, and I am excited to see Henderson in pads on Monday.\u00a0 Henderson\u2019s advanced pass-blocking skills should get him more playing time than a typical rookie running back in a Josh McDaniels offense.<\/p>\n David Olajiga is a Defensive Tackle who was in camp for the Los Angeles last year and was a member of their Practice Squad all year as an International Pathway Program player.\u00a0 Olajiga was born in London.\u00a0 The 6\u20193\u201d 319-pound DT played for Butler Community College (JUCO) and Central Missouri.\u00a0 He posted a 5.12 40-yard dash and put up 30 reps at 225# Bench Press.\u00a0 This player appears to have some potential.\u00a0 I am intrigued by his strength and whether or not it can translate to on-field production.<\/p>\n With Austin Hooper showing up on the PUP list and both Hunter Henry and Hooper turning 32 this season, would it be worth a flyer to get a look at Fant?\u00a0 In the last three years in Seattle, Fant has 130 catches, 1400 yards, and 5 TDs.\u00a0 He turns 28 in November.\u00a0 \u00a0At 6\u20194\u201d 249-pounds, he ran 4.50 40-yard dash.\u00a0 Fant is entering his 7th<\/sup> season in the league and was a 2nd-round selection (#20) in the 2019 Draft by Denver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Get a full preview of the 2025 Patriots Training Camp, including key injuries, surprise players, position battles, and breakout candidates as New England kicks off a new era under Mike Vrabel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":61319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[23789,23742,23466,23750,23533,23792,2303,23706,664,44,1925,23795,23791,1570,23794,23793,971,23796,23790,1865,23738],"class_list":["post-61300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news","tag-2025-patriots-training-camp","tag-craig-woodson","tag-drake-maye","tag-efton-chism","tag-jalynn-polk","tag-keon-white","tag-kyle-dugger","tag-marcus-epps","tag-mike-vrabel","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-noah-fant","tag-patriots-camp-news","tag-patriots-camp-preview","tag-patriots-defense","tag-patriots-depth-chart","tag-patriots-injury-report","tag-patriots-offensive-line","tag-patriots-position-battles","tag-patriots-roster-battles","tag-stefon-diggs","tag-treveyon-henderson"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/p>\nCamp Battles \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPlayers to Watch <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Patriots Sign Treveyon Henderson<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Patriots Add an International Pathway Program Player <\/strong><\/h3>\n
TE Noah Fant Released by Seattle<\/strong><\/h3>\n