The Patriots' top storylines as training camp opens

New York Times

4 days ago

The New England Patriots' six-week break is over. After a long layoff following minicamp, players report to training camp on Tuesday with the first practice scheduled for Wednesday morning.
It sets up a fascinating camp with first-year coach Mike Vrabel overseeing joint practices with two different teams and a roster led by an exciting second-year quarterback. There are plenty of important questions looming for the roster (who is the starting left guard?) and the scheme (what does the offense look like?). But as camp begins, let's examine the five most intriguing storylines.
Advertisement
In what seems like at least a mild surprise, Diggs isn't opening training camp on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a torn ACL in late October last season.
All offseason, it seemed as if Diggs was a bit ahead of schedule in his rehab, but it's risky to put too much stock into those May and June sessions. Now, it seems we have our first indication that Diggs could actually be ready to play in Week 1, which would be a quick recovery from a serious knee injury for the 31-year-old wide receiver.
Training camp should answer the remaining questions about his health and status. But the Patriots also need to see if Diggs can return from the injury to produce for them like no wide receiver has since Julian Edelman retired. If Diggs can be anything close to a No. 1 receiver, that will go a long way in helping the offense this season.
The Patriots return Christian Barmore from blood clots and signed free agent Milton Williams to the biggest contract in franchise history, moves that should help give the Patriots one of the better interior pass rushes in the league.
But it's still unclear how the team will get an outside pass rush going with a mix of Keion White, Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson. The reality is that the Pats may not get a great answer to that concern until joint practices. The New England offensive line is going to be a work in progress early in camp, so the defensive sessions against Washington's Laremy Tunsil and Minnesota's Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill should be a bit more telling.
Last year, a joint practice against the Philadelphia Eagles was so one-sided that we got an early indication of just how far behind the Patriots offensive line was. This season, we should learn quite a bit about the pass rush from the three joint practices.
Advertisement
After passing the eye test last season, it's time for the second-year quarterback to yield more production as the team surrounds him with better talent.
His spring practices were just OK, but that's to be expected as he works with his fourth different offensive coordinator in four years, dating back to college.
Now is when his practice reps really start to matter. Maye has had the offseason to learn what Josh McDaniels wants to do with the offense. It's time to see some progression in these camp practices if Maye is going to take the jump so many are expecting.
Though the Patriots lack depth at cornerback, especially while Carlton Davis remains on the non-football injury list, the pieces are there to bring plenty of success on the back end of the defense from the starters.
A group of Davis, Christian Gonzalez, Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger should be pretty good. Of those four, Dugger will be the most interesting to follow in training camp. An ankle injury slowed him for much of last season and contributed to a disappointing campaign for him.
Now that he's healthy and has a new coaching staff, can he return to the heights that made him one of the game's top safeties in 2022?
If he can, the starting secondary has a chance to be really good.
There are so many questions here, part of why this will be the most interesting position to follow in training camp.
Can Diggs be the No. 1? Will Mack Hollins be a security blanket for Maye? Can Demario Douglas take over the role in McDaniels' offense that helped Edelman thrive? Can Efton Chism keep up his strong start? Can Kyle Williams break the streak of New England wide receiver busts? Can Kayshon Boutte be a No. 2 option? Is there anything salvageable with Ja'Lynn Polk or Javon Baker?
The Patriots are going to have some tough decisions at wide receiver when roster cutdown day arrives. But in camp, it'll be interesting to see who steps up — and who could be on the chopping block at the end of August.