New England Patriots

Stevenson played a three-down role for most of the previous two seasons, but he struggled as a pass catcher out of the backfield, turning 139 targets over that span into 107 receptions for only 659 yards and one touchdown. After averaging a meager 4.7 yards per target over the past two seasons, Stevenson may find himself off the field in passing situations in 2024. Gibson has caught at least 36 passes in each of his four NFL seasons and has a career average of 6.0 yards per target.

While the coach's support is nice, Brissett hasn't done much on the field to warrant keeping the starting job. Through four games, the 31-year-old quarterback has completed just 60.4 percent of his passes for a meager 5.3 yards per attempt, with only two touchdowns against one interception for the 1-3 Patriots. Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, waits in the wings, but New England's reluctance to make a switch under center could have more to do with the team's poor offensive line play than Brissett's performance. Brissett has been sacked 15 times already, including six by the 49ers on Sunday.

The Patriots managed only three points in Thursday's loss to the Jets, and Jacoby Brissett has done little to move the ball effectively through three games, completing just 60.9 percent of his passes for one touchdown and 5.3 yards per attempt. The veteran QB hasn't committed a turnover, however, and the fact that Brissett has been sacked nine times highlights a big reason why the team may not want to throw its rookie quarterback into the fire quite yet. Maye, who was taken third overall in the 2024 Draft, will get his turn at some point, but not until the coaching staff feels both that he's ready for it, and that the team around him can give him enough support.

Brissett struggled in Thursday night's Week 3 loss to the Jets, throwing for under 100 yards while taking five sacks and leading New England to only three points. He was also replaced by rookie third overall pick Drake Maye with just over four minutes remaining in the game, but Mayo confirmed Friday that he was sticking with the veteran for what presents as a daunting matchup. "Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he is not the quarterback," Mayo said Friday morning. "I thought he showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit."

Bentley, who had a team-high 114 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season, was injured in Week 2 against Seattle. Raekwon McMillans is expected to replace him on defense.

Douglas had a relatively productive rookie season, particularly in the latter half of the campaign, when he topped 50 receiving yards three times in the final seven games. So far in 2024, he's earned only three targets with two catches for 12 yards across two contests. Following Sunday's overtime loss to the Seahawks, Douglas noted that he's still getting open but is not getting delivered targets. The Patriots are likely to run a conservative offense, so Douglas may find it difficult to consistently post quality stats.

New England hasn't utilized its wide receivers much in the passing game, but Osborn has gotten the most opportunities at the position, ahead of Ja'Lynn Polk's nine percent target share and the six percent targets share of DeMario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton. Osborn has turned eight targets into four catches for 28 yards.

The former Commander is clearly behind Rhamondre Stevenson on the Patriots' depth chart but may have some appeal as a third-down back. Gibson has recorded 42 or more catches three straight seasons and has seven touchdown catches over that span.

The rookie had reportedly closed the gap with Brissett in recent weeks, but Mayo cited the latter's knowledge of the team's offense and his body of work since the spring as the deciding factors in the job battle. Maye was unsurprisingly diplomatic about the situation when asked, noting he naturally wanted to win out but understood the situation and adding he'd prepare like a starter each week in the event he was called upon. "I felt like I had a good camp. I feel like I'm throwing it well. Played well throughout the preseason," he said. "So other than that, keep my head down and keep working. I don't think anything's changed."

Mayo stated Thursday that the organization was "100 percent behind Jacoby" when making the announcement, noting the veteran signal-caller's experience in the team's system -- one implemented by Alex Van Pelt, Brissett's offensive coordinator with the Browns in 2022 -- was key to the decision. Brissett expressed gratitude and excitement for the opportunity, and Mayo emphasized he planned on keeping Brissett as his starter as long as he was performing up to a certain standard.

"This is a true competition, and I would say at this current point, Drake has outplayed Jacoby," Mayo said Monday in his weekly appearance on WEEI's 'The Greg Hill Show.' "Now in saying that, we have to take in the full body of work, going all the way back to the spring and beginning of training camp. And we'll see where we end up. But those are the conversations that will happen here over the next couple of days." Brissett also injured his throwing shoulder Sunday in the Patriots' final preseason game, but the issue isn't expected to linger into the regular season. Maye has performed well enough to claim the starting QB job, but New England may view Brissett as a steadier hand on the tiller to begin the season given the 31-year-old's experience.

Maye has made big strides since being selected with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he notably took the majority of first-team reps in practice this week after a solid showing against the Eagles in Week 2 of the preseason where he led consecutive scoring drives. However, head coach Jerod Mayo has said he won't be making a final decision on who'll serve as the starting quarterback to open the season until after he gets a look at both Brissett and Maye once more in the exhibition finale. Brissett is still thought to have slightly better odds of opening the season as the starter, but Maye will have a chance to make a final case for his candidacy Sunday night.

Brissett has had a ragged preseason to date while completing just three of 10 passes for 17 yards and one interception, numbers he's generated over four drives. However, head coach Jerod Mayo has said he won't be making a final decision on who'll serve as the starting quarterback to open the season until after he gets a look at both Brissett and Maye once more in the exhibition finale. Brissett is still thought to have slightly better odds of opening the season as the starter, and he'll have a chance to work with the first-team offense Sunday as he attempts to make a final case.

Brissett entered the preseason as the favorite to open the regular season as New England's starting quarterback over Maye, but the rookie has made up ground while the veteran completed just three of 10 passes with an interception through two preseason games. How the two quarterbacks look against Washington could help determine the outcome of the competition, with Mayo stating that he expects to come to a decision Monday or Tuesday.

Mayo said he'll likely determine the team's Week 1 starter Monday or Tuesday, though he may wait longer before revealing his decision to the media. The coach added that he has seen Maye's confidence grow throughout the preseason. A strong showing in the preseason finale could help the rookie third overall pick beat out the veteran Brissett, who has struggled in limited preseason action.

The running back bulked up a bit last season, but the results weren't what Stevenson had been looking for as his yards per carry average dropped from 5.0 in 2022 to 4.0 in 2023. The Patriots brought in Antonio Gibson this offseason to take some of the backfield workload off Stevenson's shoulders, but the fourth-year back should be the linchpin of an offense likely to have rookie Drake Maye under center at some point.

Reagor is battling Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Javon Baker and Kawaan Baker for a depth spot at wide receiver. Reagor may have an edge over those four due to his ability as a returner, which he most recently showcased on his explosive 32-yard kickoff return Thursday. He also managed to haul in his lone target for seven yards in the red zone. The 2020 first-round pick has less than two weeks of training camp and one more preseason game to make a case to latch onto New England's 53-man roster.

Head coach Jerod Mayo gave Maye a public vote of confidence following the game, noting the third-overall pick "definitely took a step forward." Maye completed six of 11 passes for 47 yards and recorded a four-yard rushing score, but he also could have had a much more impressive passing line had fellow rookie Javon Baker not dropped a well-thrown deep ball. Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett will both play in the preseason finale against the Commanders, a game that is likely to decide the job battle between the two.

The veteran signal-caller is quite the insurance policy and has been running as the top quarterback throughout the offseason and training camp, but Maye appears to have particularly made up ground during Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles. Meanwhile, Brissett struggled while throwing for only 17 yards on three completions and tossing an end-zone interception, and he may need to outperform his rookie competition in the preseason finale against the Commanders to prevail in the job battle.

The veteran edge rusher has been stuck in a contract dispute with New England as he heads into the final year of his current contract, which is set to pay him $6.5 million. It's not clear which teams have inquired about Judon, or whether the Patriots have seriously considered moving him, but a trade to another team could get him one step closer to an extension.

The Patriots' top two quarterbacks are locked in with veteran Jacoby Brissett and 2024 third overall pick Drake Maye, leaving the battle for QB3 between Zappe and rookie sixth-rounder Joe Milton. Lazar relays that Milton's arm strength and talent upside outweighs the experience Zappe would bring as an emergency option. If Zappe is indeed on his way out of New England, the Patriots could look to trade the third-year quarterback to a team in need of a backup or emergency option.

Smith-Schuster was the odd man out of the Patriots' wide receiver corps that's made up of young players like Thornton, Demario Douglas and rookie second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk. Thornton played just seven snaps in New England's 17-3 preseason win over Carolina on Thursday, which Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site notes is usually an indicator that the player's spot on the 53-man roster is safe. In nine regular-season games in 2023, Thornton accumulated 13 catches on 23 targets for 91 yards while adding 51 rushing yards and three carries.

Wilcox started opposite Austin Hooper on Thursday, with Hunter Henry not playing. Wilcox's four targets were tied with wide receiver Javon Baker for second most on the Patriots, but the former had two drops and finished with one catch for five yards. The rainy conditions didn't make things easy for any of the pass catchers, but drops have been a consistent problem for Wilcox throughout training camp and could cost him a spot on New England's 53-man roster if he doesn't shore up that part of his game.

Pharms was a dominant force up front for the Patriots on Thursday, finishing with four tackles, including a sack. His best sequence of play came in the second quarter, when he drew back-to-back offensive holding penalties. With Christian Barmore out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood clots in late July, Pharms is making a strong case for himself to be on the Patriots' starting defensive line alongside Keion White and Davon Godchaux.

Boutte's six targets Thursday were a team high, and his 31 snaps on offense were third-most among wide receivers behind Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. What's more, Boutte's chance of making the Patriots' 53-man roster received a boost after JuJu Smith-Schuster was released by New England on Friday. Boutte, a 2023 sixth-round draft pick out of LSU, is now battling Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for a depth spot at wide receiver.

The third overall pick in the 2024 Draft remains behind Jacoby Brissett in the battle to be the Patriots' Week 1 starter under center, but Maye is making big strides already in his development. New England is comfortable with Brissett as its starting QB and won't rush Maye, but the North Carolina product appears to be on track to take over the job at some point this season. However, working against an early transition is the fact that the Patriots don't get their bye this season until Week 14.

Mayo said Thursday he'd had what he termed a "good meeting" with the star linebacker, adding that he had "a great relationship" with Judon. In addition to the Monday conversation with Mayo, Judon has reportedly also been in talks with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and director of player personnel Matt Groh. Judon was notably at Thursday's practice, with Edholm noting the veteran was at the front of the line in conditioning drills.

Zappe's stock continues to drop in the offseason, as he has gone from starting six games in 2023 to looking unlikely to make New England's roster in 2024. The Patriots are looking for a fresh start under center, and after shipping away Mac Jones via trade, the team appears likely to move on from Zappe as well. Not only has Zappe been surpassed by 2024 third overall pick Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart, but even 2024 sixth-round draft pick Joe Milton has worked ahead of him in the first two days of training camp.

The Patriots know what they have in Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick with an underwhelming 11:12 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 14 appearances, including eight starts. Milton has demonstrated superior arm strength, and the 2024 sixth-round draft pick is getting a chance to leapfrog Zappe for the third spot on the depth chart. Milton is unlikely to surpass veteran Jacoby Brissett or fellow rookie Drake Maye -- whom New England drafted third overall -- for one of the top two spots.

Smith-Schuster spent his first five NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, including a 2018 Pro Bowl campaign in which he set career highs with 111 catches and 1,426 receiving yards. He had just 260 yards with New England in 2023 while being bothered by a knee injury, so Smith-Schuster could find himself sliding down the depth chart as the rebuilding Patriots prioritize younger receivers. Pittsburgh has a history of trading for receivers late in training camp or during the preseason, and adding Smith-Schuster could help the Steelers bolster a wide receiver room that lacks established talent other than George Pickens.

Judon did not participate in New England's first day of padded practice Monday and was asked to leave the practice field. One day later, he was not spotted at the facility at all, though it's unclear whether that was his own decision or the team's. Judon is entering the final season on a four-year, $56 million contract and has been a very productive player, but negotiations on an extension became more complicated after he suffered an injury-plagued 2023 campaign.

While the veteran edge rusher did show up for training camp, he wasn't in uniform on the sideline Monday and instead had a 15-minute conversation with head coach Jerod Mayo before leaving the field. Judon then returned for a more heated conversation with director of player personnel Matt Groh and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, the two members of the front office who typically handle contracts for the Patriots. Judon had previously indicated he would play out the final year of his contract in 2024 if necessary, which would pay him $7.5 million, but that isn't stopping him from venting his displeasure with the situation.

Mayo described the situation as clear for the time being but also noted that there would be competition between Brissett and rookie quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots have consistently stated that Brissett will be the starter to begin the season since selecting Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Brissett may also be able to hold the job for a substantial period of time, as he's been a serviceable starter for half seasons during his time with Miami and Cleveland in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Boutte, who was selected in the sixth round in the 2023 NFL Draft, was arrested on the charges this past January. Boutte was alleged to have bet on sports intermittently between April 6, 2022 and May 7, 2023 during his time in college at LSU while using an online alias to navigate sport betting age restrictions in the state. There were nearly 9,000 bets placed through the account, including at least six that involved LSU football games. The state's decision to close the case will likely allow Boutte to avoid NFL disciplinary action.

Bedard believes that Judon won't play for New England in 2024 on his current contract, and the two sides don't seem close on working out an extension or even a reworked one-year deal with heavy incentives. Judon has indicated that he won't hold out from training camp as he did last season, but the club may still prefer to trade him rather than watch him leave for nothing in free agency next year. The 31-year-old played only four games last season due to a torn bicep, but he's recorded 32.0 sacks in his last 38 NFL games dating back to 2021.

Polk was the 10th wide receiver taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, with the Patriots drafting the Washington product in the second round, 37th overall. Graff notes that Polk's college coaches raved about his large catch radius, reliable hands -- particularly in crucial situations like third downs -- and his blocking ability. With fellow wideout Kendrick Bourne continuing to work his way back from an ACL tear, Polk will have a prime opportunity to establish chemistry during training camp with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye and cement himself as New England's top pass catcher to begin the season.

Judon is set to make $6.5 million in the final year of his current contract in 2024. The veteran edge rusher, who turns 32 in August, is hoping to get more years tacked onto his deal, or at least get a substantial raise for the 2024 season. Judon had just 4.0 sacks in four games last season before tearing his biceps, but he erupted for 15.5 sacks in 2022.

A third-round pick in 2023 out of Sacramento State, Mapu was mainly deployed as an outside linebacker as a rookie when he saw snaps on defense. His speed could be more effective in the secondary, however, and new head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington view him as an option to fill the open starting job at free safety. Veteran Jaylinn Hawkins, who was signed to a one-year deal in March, could be Mapu's biggest competition in camp for the role.

Slye spent the last two-plus seasons with Washington and had some success, completing 84.8 percent of his field-goal attempts including eight of 12 from 50 yards or longer. After signing a one-year contract with the Jaguars in March, however, he was cut loose when Jacksonville used a sixth-round pick in the 2024 Draft on Cam Little. Slye will now battle a 2023 fourth-round pick in Ryland, but the younger kicker is on shaky ground after a very inconsistent rookie campaign.

Ryland was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 Draft as the second kicker to be taken after the 49ers' Jake Moody, but the Maryland product had a rough rookie season that included him making only 50 percent of his field-goal attempts from 40 yards or longer. Slye spent the last two-plus seasons with Washington and made 84.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, including eight of 12 from 50 yards or longer, so he represents a significant threat to Ryland's spot.

The pick is a rather logical one, considering the Patriots lack for proven stars at every other offensive position and defensive players typically don't draw as much attention, with a few exceptions. Stevenson does seemingly have the talent to run away with a team MVP race if he's given enough opportunity under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Edholm is looking at Stevenson's 2022 campaign as an indicator of what he might be capable of, a year in which the versatile back recorded 1,461 yards from scrimmage on 279 total touches.

Tavai tied for the second-most tackles on the Patriots in 2023, helping him earn a deal that could be worth up to $21 million. The emerging linebacker began his career ascent when he joined New England in 2021 after two years with the Lions, and he's proven highly durable by appearing in all 17 regular-season games in both of the last two campaigns.

New England has plenty of options competing for playing time at wide receiver, but Douglas has separated himself as the team's top slot receiver over JuJu Smith-Schuster. Douglas caught 49 of 79 targets for 561 yards as a rookie in 2023 but failed to score a touchdown.

Osborn looked like the early leader in New England's underwhelming wide receiver room in minicamp, and he was usually the first player through drills. He signed with New England as a free agent in the offseason after spending four years in Minnesota. Osborn posted between 540 and 655 receiving yards in each of his final three seasons with the Vikings.

Polk has shown talent and physicality in practice, as well as a willingness to learn and improve. He's already building chemistry with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and coach Jerod Mayo described Polk as a "self starter" while praising the receiver's work ethic. Polk had 1,159 receiving yards and caught nine touchdowns for the University of Washington in 2023.

Battling through a knee injury, Smith-Schuster played in just 11 games last season, finishing with 29 catches on 47 targets for 260 yards and one touchdown. While he entered this offseason healthier than this time last year, he was noticeably less explosive during OTAs and minicamps, per Graff. Smith-Schuster does have the most experience of the Patriots' wide receiver corps, and that could give him the edge over Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte at the conclusion of training camp.

The 2020 first-round pick out of TCU will have a shot at making the final roster given his prowess as a returner amid the NFL's new kickoff rules. However, Graff notes that Reagor could lose out on a spot given that other players, including wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, looked good as kickoff returners during minicamp and OTAs. Reagor accumulated just seven catches for 138 yards over 11 games for New England last season. As a kick returner, he registered 221 yards and one touchdown.

Thornton has played in just 22 of 34 regular-season games over the past two seasons due to various lower-body injuries. With New England taking Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the 2024 NFL Draft, Thornton will be competing against JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor and Jayshon Boutte for the final wideout spot on the 53-man roster. Thornton brings plenty of speed to the Patriots' pass-catching group, but he hasn't played a snap on special teams over his first two seasons in the league, which puts him at a disadvantage as he guns for a spot on New England's roster.

The 2023 sixth-round pick out of LSU demonstrated his upside in OTAs and minicamp this offseason. However, with the Patriots taking Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the 2024 NFL Draft, Boutte will likely be competing for the last wideout spot on the 53-man roster. Graff currently has JuJu Smith-Schuster occupying that last spot due to his experience relative to the other receivers. While Boutte certainly has age and potential in his favor, his lack of special teams experience puts him at a disadvantage heading into training camp.

As OTAs wound down, Graff notes that 2024 third-overall pick Drake Maye overtook Zappe as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jacoby Brissett. That was to be predicted given the draft capital used on Maye, but what's more concerning for Zappe is he couldn't establish a clear gap between himself and 2024 sixth-round pick Joe Milton during spring practices. If Zappe can't pick up his game in training camp and preseason, the 2022 fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky could be looking to land with another team following the 53-man roster deadline.

The deal is for four years and a total of $36 million, and it marks another offseason milestone for new general manager Eliot Wolf. Stevenson has amassed 2,265 rushing yards, 782 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns over his first 41 NFL games, and he's once again slated to operate as the team's lead back in an offense expected to feature plenty of wide-zone runs under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Hunter Henry continues to operate as New England's top tight end, but Bell has looked more impressive in the passing game than veteran Austin Hooper. Fellow rookie Drake Maye found Bell up the seam for a touchdown in Monday's minicamp practice. Bell was a seventh-round pick in April after scoring nine receiving touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns in his last three collegiate seasons. He's undersized at 6-foot-2 but was one of the faster tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine, logging a 4.61-second 40-yard dash time.

Zappe started New England's last six games of the 2023 season, but he has been fighting an uphill battle since the team drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed Jacoby Brissett in free agency. Zappe has only fallen further behind based on early returns in the team's mandatory minicamp. Jacoby Brissett handled 30 reps in Monday's practice, with Maye right behind him at 29. Meanwhile, Zappe saw his workload trend down to 13 reps. To make matters worse, Zappe struggled in his limited opportunities, throwing a pick-six on one of his four passes in 11-on-11 drills.

Thornton has struggled to find consistency across his first two seasons in the NFL, producing only 35 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns in 22 games since the Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That inconsistency has manifested early in minicamp through drops and miscommunications with quarterbacks. Due to those shortcomings, Thornton appears to be bringing up the rear in a wide-receiver camp competition that includes second-year pass catchers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, as well as veteran options in JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor and Kendrick Bourne.

Rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are virtual locks to make the team, as is second-year wideout Demario Douglas. JuJu Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn are the veterans best positioned to make the 53-man roster, but Reagor has a chance to sneak onto the roster if Kendrick Bourne's recovery from a torn ACL stretches into the regular season. Reagor has performed well as a catch-and-run threat in minicamp practices, separating himself from Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte in that regard.

The Patriots have a crowded wide receiver room. Returning youngster Demario Douglas will likely make the team while veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster claims to be healthy again after being slowed by a knee injury last season. The team also signed K.J. Osborn in free agency and drafted Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Even if Kendrick Bourne's recovery from a torn ACL bleeds into the regular season, Boutte will likely have to beat out Jalen Reagor and speedster Tyquan Thornton for a roster spot. Boutte has marginally helped his case by making some red-zone plays in minicamp practices, but he remains firmly on the bubble.

Godchaux attended Monday's mandatory practice but didn't participate, suggesting that he's "holding in." The 29-year-old defensive tackle is entering the final season of a two-year, $20.8 million extension, so he's hoping to renegotiate for a contract that stretches beyond the 2024 season.

The running back is in the final year of his rookie deal and is set to earn about $3.1 million in 2024. Stevenson has been a big part of New England's backfield since being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he missed the final five games of the 2023 campaign due to a high-ankle sprain, preventing him from having a chance at 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season.

Heading into training camp, Brissett has the edge over Maye for the Week 1 starting job, per Albert Breer of SI.com. That has played out in OTAs so far, with Brissett running the first-team offense smoothly and distributing the ball evenly to his receivers. Graff notes that Brisset has experience with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, with the duo spending one season together with the Browns in 2022. Brissett started in 11 of 16 regular-season games that season, completing 64.0 percent of his passes for 2,609 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

White, a second-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, saw his usage on defense increase over the course of his rookie season. He logged 50-plus percent of New England's defensive snaps in each of the last seven games of the season, and the Georgia Tech product finished with 26 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and three pass deflections over 16 games. White is slated alongside Christian Barmore as the starting edge rushers for the Patriots heading into training camp.

During his six seasons in Pittsburgh, Okorafor saw only two snaps at left tackle out of 4,077, but the Patriots believe he can make the adjustment without much trouble. New England is looking to replace Trent Brown as the blind-side protector for quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and 2024 third overall pick Drake Maye.

The 31-year-old edge rusher is in the final year of his current contract and is looking for an extension, but after he managed to play only four games in 2023 due to a torn biceps, the Patriots are balking on giving him much in the way of guaranteed money. Judon doesn't intend to incur fines by missing mandatory practices, however. He was one of the league's top pass rushers during his first two seasons in New England in 2021 and 2022, and he is set to have a base salary of only $6.5 million in 2024.

Smith-Schuster proclaimed Monday that he's finally healthy after being limited all of last season following knee surgery in February 2023, but Bedard believes New England is ready to move on from the wideout nonetheless. The Patriots remade their receiver room in the offseason, adding K.J. Osborn as a free agent in addition to drafting Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. The 27-year-old Smith-Schuster isn't as good of a fit for New England's rebuilding timeline and would likely prefer to play for a contender such as the Chiefs, with whom he won the Super Bowl in 2022.

The 27-year-old wideout made little impact last year in his first campaign with New England, playing only 11 games and managing 29 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown, but a lingering knee issue would help explain his poor production. A healthy Smith-Schuster should be able to rebound, especially if the team gets better quarterback play from Jacoby Brissett and/or rookie Drake Maye, but the veteran also faces increased competition for snaps at wide receiver from 2024 second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk and free-agent signing K.J. Osborn.

Despite being selected third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots don't intend to push Maye into the starting lineup before he's ready to handle it. Brissett's experience, which includes time with new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in Cleveland, also gives New England a comfort level with the alternative. Maye is the future at the position, though, and head coach Jerod Mayo is keeping an open mind on the battle between the quarterbacks, which is likely to extend into training camp. "It's all competition," Mayo said Saturday. "It's all about going out there and competing. I don't know how this thing will play out."

Maye is expected to eventually become New England's new franchise QB and could take over the job later in the season, but Brissett's experience with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt from their time together in Cleveland will give the Patriots leeway in letting the rookie develop at his own pace. New head coach Jerod Mayo made it clear at the start of OTAs that he's keeping an open mind on who will win the job battle this offseason, however. "It's all competition," he said Saturday. "It's all about going out there and competing. I don't know how this thing will play out."

Maye still has a ways to go put himself in position for that opportunity after reportedly enduring his share of rough patches during the team's recent rookie minicamp. However, if he makes up enough ground during training camp and preseason games, Maye could have quite the noteworthy matchup for his first regular-season game as Burrow makes his return from the wrist injury that cut short his 2023 season.

New England is entering a new era with Maye and Mayo taking the reigns as quarterback and head coach, respectively. Maye still has to earn the starting role, though, as New England has veteran Jacoby Brissett on hand should the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft need time to marinate on the bench. The Patriots are hoping they have their quarterback of the future in Maye, and New England's coaching staff is already getting to work on improving his game.

Uche reportedly turned down a two-year, $15 million contract with $11 million guaranteed from another team to stay with the Patriots on a one-year deal with $3 million guaranteed. He said people were "calling him crazy" for leaving such money on the table, but the edge rusher said being in New England was a "dream that I wanted to fulfill." Uche struggled in 2023 after Matthew Judon suffered a season-ending biceps injury in Week 4 against the Cowboys, and the former finished the season with 15 tackles, including 3.0 sacks, over 15 games. Uche registered career highs in 2022 with 27 tackles, including 11.5 sacks, along with two forced fumbles.

After joining the Patriots in 2021, Judon went back-to-back seasons recording double-digit sacks, including a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022. He started 2023 with 4.0 sacks over the first three games before his season was cut short after he suffered a right lower bicep tendon tear in Week 4 against the Cowboys. With a new head coach and quarterback at the helm for New England, Judon's veteran experience will be heavily relied upon to anchor the Patriots' defense.

Expectations are naturally high for Maye given where he was drafted, and perhaps even more so on a Patriots team that is desperate for an upgrade at the position given how difficult the post-Tom Brady era has been for the franchise thus far. Brissett signed a one-year contract this offseason that makes clear he's largely expected to serve as an insurance policy and mentor; therefore, Maye, who had already met Brissett previously through the rookie's one-time North Carolina college teammate Sam Howell, is likely to reap the benefits of the veteran signal-caller's experience and well-established reputation for being a good mentor and locker room presence.

The veteran quarterback signed a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Patriots in March, presumably with full expectation that he'd be ceding the starting reins to a top-five draft pick in relatively short order. However, Brissett hit all the right notes in his comments Wednesday, noting competition "brings out the best in all of us" while also acknowledging the ultimate decision on who wins the summertime job battle will be out of his control to an extent.

The Patriots selected Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and reportedly rebuffed offers from other teams looking to move up. However, he's still viewed as a relatively raw prospect after starting 26 games across the last two seasons at North Carolina. Brissett is a steady leader of a pro offense, so while Maye is the future at the position in New England, Brissett could start for a significant portion of the 2024 campaign.

Milton was the second quarterback taken by the Patriots in the draft, with North Carolina's Drake Maye selected with the third overall pick. With New England's quarterback room consisting of Maye, Bailey Zappe, Nathan Rourke and Jacoby Brissett, the addition of Milton fueled speculation that the Tennessee product was taken with another position in mind. Head coach Jerod Mayo noted that the Patriots "drafted [Milton] as a quarterback," but sounded open to moving the signal caller around once offseason workouts are underway.

Both the Vikings and the Giants were interested enough in Maye to offer significant draft capital for the North Carolina quarterback, including first-round picks for the 2025 NFL Draft. Ultimately, Maye's football intelligence, drive and leadership qualities impressed New England enough to stand pat and take the young quarterback with the third overall pick. Maye joins the Patriots' quarterback room of Nathan Rourke, Bailey Zappe, veteran Jacoby Brissett and 2024 sixth-round pick Joe Milton out of Tennessee.

The ultra-reliable veteran signal-caller will begin his second tour of duty with the Patriots as head coach Jerod Mayo tackles the unenviable task of succeeding future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick. Brissett's signing puts the team in very good hands while it breaks in what is expected to be a star rookie quarterback that will be selected third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Patra suggests Brissett will see enough playing time to surpass the 224 yards and three touchdowns he threw for over three games in Washington last season.

Stevenson played a three-down role for most of the previous two seasons, but he struggled as a pass catcher out of the backfield, turning 139 targets over that span into 107 receptions for only 659 yards and one touchdown. After averaging a meager 4.7 yards per target over the past two seasons, Stevenson may find himself off the field in passing situations in 2024. Gibson has caught at least 36 passes in each of his four NFL seasons and has a career average of 6.0 yards per target.