FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots will open 2024 training camp with veterans reporting on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium. Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
When will No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye emerge as the starting quarterback?
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt couldn't have been more decisive in early June when he declared that veteran Jacoby Brissett is the current starter after an "exceptional spring." Specific to Maye, he said: "It's a marathon. We're going to take our time and do it the right way."
Maye opened spring practices taking repetitions behind Brissett and 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe, but by the end of mandatory minicamp he had leapfrogged Zappe. The final play of mandatory minicamp saw Maye connecting with second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk on a back-shoulder fade in the end zone -- a touchdown that Maye said helped him end his first NFL spring on a positive note.
The Patriots have been careful not to put a timetable on Maye's potential breakthrough, in part because Maye's performance on the practice field will likely be a significant factor in the decision-making process. That makes the situation different from Chicago, which already named No. 1 pick Caleb Williams its starter, and Washington, which seems to be leaning heavily in the direction of No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels.
Most compelling position battle: Wide receivers
There might not be a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, but there are still a lot of capable receivers vying for roster spots, and there won't be room for everyone. Polk and fourth-round Javon Baker should lock down spots, while it would be a surprise if second-year slot DeMario "Pop" Douglas isn't on the roster.
Kendrick Bourne is recovering from a torn right ACL but the expectation, according to coach Jerod Mayo, is that everyone other than guard Cole Strange (knee) is tracking to be cleared by the end of the second week of camp. Also, free agent signing K.J. Osborn has made a strong first impression on coaches. So where does that leave 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton; 2023 sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte; veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Reagor and others?
Coaching change: All eyes will be on Mayo.
Mayo leads his first training camp as a head coach and it will be the Patriots' first camp without Bill Belichick as coach since 1999. Mayo plans to put his own stamp on things, and an early example of him doing so is changing the time that the team practices -- 11 a.m. ET. Under Belichick, it was mostly a 9:30 a.m. start in recent years. Several players have described Mayo's style as relationship-based, which Mayo said is part of his approach -- before he demands from them, he wants to show them he cares about them.
Training camp is a success if... the offensive line takes shape early and the top five players show they are capable.
It starts with a big question at left tackle with free-agent signee Chukwuma Okorafor. Then the next item of business will be determining if big-bucks free-agent re-signing Mike Onwenu fits best at right tackle or right guard. He finished the spring at guard, which opened the door for third-round pick Caedan Wallace to take top repetitions at right tackle, where he played almost exclusively at Penn State. Veteran and longtime captain David Andrews is entrenched at center, and 2023 fourth-round pick Sidy Sow is the leading candidate to step in at left guard.
Player with the most to prove: Kicker Chad Ryland.
The 2023 fourth-round pick admittedly had a challenging rookie season, going 16-of-25 on field goals and 24-of-25 on point after attempts, and now doesn't have the prior regime of Coach Belichick, assistant head coach Joe Judge and special teams coordinator Cameron Achord to back him. The Patriots also brought in veteran kicker Joey Slye as competition. Ryland has a personal motto that if he kicks it, he owns it, and he's dedicated himself to a turnaround in his second season. It's up to him to deliver the results.