The New England Patriots are set to begin the eighth and final week of their offseason program. The spring wraps up with three days of mandatory minicamp from June 9-11, with all three sessions open to the media.
While the pads remain off and contact is limited, there will still be plenty to take away from the final practices before the team breaks ahead of training camp. Here are five storylines we’ll be monitoring on the practice fields this week.
Potential holdouts?
Despite being around the team earlier this spring,
cornerback Christian Gonzalez did not participate in voluntary OTAs. With the star cornerback eligible for a long-term contract extension, his status as the Patriots transition to the mandatory phase of the offseason program is the top storyline to monitor this week. Speaking last week, head coach Mike Vrabel said he expects Gonzalez to be in attendance.
“I would imagine that he would be here next week,” Vrabel said Tuesday. “Contracts are part of professional sports, I understand that. But I also know that those should remain private. Like any contract negotiation, you want to make sure that everybody feels like they get something out of it, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has also been away from the team this offseason as trade speculation continues. Speaking to WBZ over the weekend, Boutte, who was back in Massachusetts, said he plans to participate in minicamp this week and would like to remain in New England.
A.J. Brown and the receivers
Our first look at A.J. Brown last week was expectedly brief, as the star wide receiver ran only a handful of 11-on-11 routes during his first practice with the team. Now with a full week in the playbook and an additional practice under his belt, Brown should be more involved this week as he continues building chemistry with Drake Maye.
The rest of the room will have plenty to monitor as well, as the addition of Brown will affect Boutte’s role and as Romeo Doubs also continues establishing his relationship with Maye. Second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams will also look to build some momentum heading into the summer while slot options DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism III try to continue their strong springs as they were the top two receivers in two open practices.
Edge health
Upgrading the talent along the edge was a priority for the Patriots this offseason. While free-agent addition Dre’Mont Jones has been a regular at Gillette Stadium the last two months, the team has been without Harold Landry and second-round pick Gabe Jacas in recent weeks.
Landry’s on-field absence is likely tied to the knee injury that hampered him for much of last season. Jacas, meanwhile, has not practiced since being drafted in April, likely due to the hamstring injury that limited him throughout the pre-draft process. With Jacas expected to play an immediate role on defense this season, getting the rookie some on-field work before training camp next month would be beneficial.
Without two of their top three edge rushers, second-year pro Elijah Ponder has handled the majority reps opposite Jones, while Bradyn Swinson has also been limited in recent weeks.
O-line roles
In two open practices, first-round pick Caleb Lomu has taken all of his 11-on-11 reps at right tackle while working in with Morgan Moses. Last Tuesday, the veteran was unable to finish practice after spending time with the medical staff. Whether that was injury-related or part of Moses’ workload plan remains unclear, making the 35-year-old’s status worth monitoring this week.
Either way, Lomu should continue to see plenty of work at right tackle, while we’ll also see if he continues to cross-train on the left side.
New England could then use another layer of depth to emerge behind Ben Brown. Through two open practices, Andrew Rupcich appears to be gaining momentum. The 27-year old guard was previously with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee and spent most of last season on the Patriots’ practice squad. During OTAs, Rupcich has repped as the starting left guard at times while Alijah Vera-Tucker has sat out of full-team work as he continues to work back from a season-ending triceps tear.
Depth spots
Three consecutive open practices will also provide a good look at who the Patriots currently view as their top depth options across the roster. On offense, Lan Larison appears to be the frontrunner for the RB3 role, but he still faces plenty of competition from Terrell Jennings, Myles Montgomery, and Jam Miller.
With Julian Hill placed on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury, the tight end depth is back under the microscope behind Hunter Henry. Rookie Eli Raridon is expected to take on a larger role at some point, but the more experienced Jack Westover has repped as the primary backup to date. C.J. Dippre and UDFA Tanner Arkin could begin making their pushes once the pads come on, as both project to make their biggest impact in the run game.
On defense, the absence of Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis this spring has created plenty of opportunities for the depth cornerbacks. Kindle Vildor has looked steady as the most experienced member of the group, while fifth-round pick Karon Prunty and slot option Kobee Minor have both made plays on the football.
Newcomers Mike Brown and K.J. Britt have also been active. Brown has joined Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson on the field in three-safety looks, while Britt recorded an impressive pass breakup from the linebacker spot during the first open practice. However, Britt did not finish that session due to injury and was sidelined last week, allowing Chad Muma to step into his role.
