Patriots Sunday: Ten Quick Thoughts From Camp

The New England Patriots continue to practice in Foxboro today. As the first full week in camp comes to a close, there is plenty to feel good about and other causes for concern. It is worth noting that this is still practice without full pads. It is also still July. The regular season doesn’t begin until September and will last for four and half months. None of this stops immediate reactions to what is happening.

It is already clear that the Patriots’ defense is well ahead of the offense. This should surprise nobody since the New England defense played far superior to the offense a year ago. The offense is also led by mostly new quarterbacks picking up a new system under a new staff. There is far more continuity on the other side of the ball.

Also Read – Kelley: Pre-Training Camp Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

I’m hesitant to make any declarative statements this early in the process. That said, in 11 days the Patriots play their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. Jerod Mayo has been stressing a need to improve every day they are on the field. In the small sampling at camp this week that has not been happening in all areas. It’s not necessarily a concern on Day 5, but it’s a trend that can’t continue. There will be downs, though there needs to be more ups than downs in the big picture.

With all of that in mind, 10 quick thoughts from training camp in this edition of Patriots Sunday.

Jacoby Brissett Needs to Improve

Mayo made it clear that Brissett was QB1 entering camp but the veteran has not played the part in the first few days of camp. On Friday he struggled mightily in 11-on-11 drills. However, Mayo also made it clear that Drake Maye (or anyone else) would have to “light it up” to overtake Jacoby Brissett and it does not appear that has happened either.

Rough 11v11 period for the #Patriots offense

Jacoby Brissett didn’t throw a completion and was almost intercepted

Drake Maye had a wide miss on a bootleg, seemed to throw behind JuJu on an out where the receiver slipped, and was high on an RPO bubble to KJ Osborn. One solid…

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) July 26, 2024

The New England Patriots offense has connected on four large gains over the first few days in practice. Jacoby Brissett is the only quarterback yet to connect on one. It is important for Brissett to step up his game for several reasons. If he retains the starting job while playing this poorly, it will reflect poorly on his head coach’s pre-camp comments about it being an open competition. New England also cannot afford to have the starting QB play at a subpar level while also lacking big play potential.

Again, it’s still early and there is no need to hit the panic button yet, but Jacoby Brissett needs to play better.

Wide Receiver Corps

Despite the offense’s struggles in camp, I am optimistic about the possibilities for the Patriots wide receivers room. DeMario Douglas showed great promise as a rookie. He is shifty and capable of creating separation. It’s too early to anoint him the next coming of Troy Brown, Wes Welker, or Julian Edelman, but it’s also not hard to envision.

Rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker bring excitement and optimism for better days ahead for the New England offense. Both have big play capabilities and fit into the theme of “weaponizing” the offense, which has been talked about frequently.

Douglas, Polk, and Baker made up a solid nucleus of receivers in Foxboro. They will be joined in the core by Kendrick Bourne whenever he returns. That leaves roster spots limited for the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Kayshon Boutte, and the rest of the wide receivers in camp. Some want to push all-in on Brandon Aiyuk, but I’m excited to see what this group is capable of.

Leadership – Part 1

One of the highlights of Friday’s camp was a deep touchdown pass from Drake Maye to Ja’Lynn Polk. This is a combination Patriots fans hope to see plenty of in the coming years.

.@DrakeMaye2 going deeeep to @jpolk_22 🆙 pic.twitter.com/zH0RdidzW2

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 26, 2024

My favorite part of this clip? The reaction of Hunter Henry (No. 85) to the catch. Henry is entering his ninth NFL season in 2024. He ran a full sprint to help celebrate a touchdown in the first week of training camp. This exemplifies why Hunter Henry is a team captain and viewed as a core player worth signing to a multi-year contract this offseason. This is not fake enthusiasm, it is a player genuinely celebrating and pumping up his teammates. Great work!

Contract Extensions for Unhappy Campers?

Matthew Judon and Davon Godchaux remain without extensions and head into the final year of their contracts. Neither player is happy with their situation. Both continue to be full participants in camp, though having unhappy campers is not an ideal situation for anyone involved.

Without a deal getting done at this point, it is reasonable to wonder if there is hope of anything being agreed upon for either side. Judon views himself as one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers, and rightfully so. Twelve NFL edge rushers average at least $20 million per year on their current deals. If the Patriots were willing to pay that much, wouldn’t they have already done so? Or does Judon have a number similar to the Giants’ Brian Burns in mind ($28.5 million)? Judon seems like a superior player but is also six years older.

Godchaux cited players like Grover Stewart and Dalvin Tomlinson as potential comps for his deal. He stated, “I just want some respect.” Stewart’s deal signed this spring, per Miguel Benzan, was for three years and $39 million. Would Godchaux accept a tw0-year $26 million extension? Would New England agree to that? Stay tuned.

Jonathan Jones

Judon and Godchaux received headlines for their contract situations, but they are not the only veterans heading into the final year of their deals. Jonathan Jones, the third-longest tenured Patriots player is also set to hit free agency in 2025 without an extension. Jones has been a very dependable player for New England over his eight-year career. Pro Football Focus gave Jonathan Jones a 76.5 grade for his 2023 performance. It was the highest grade of his NFL career. So despite turning 31 this coming September, his play has yet to slip.

New England’s cornerback room is filled with young players looking to make their mark on the NFL. From Christian Gonzalez to Marcus Jones to Marcellas Dial Jr., the room lacks significant playing experience outside of Jonathan Jones. Giving him a one-year extension, similar to the deal given to starting center David Andrews, would seem to be a wise move to lock up a key player and team leader.

Available Free Agents

When Jerod Mayo was asked (indirectly) about acquiring Brandon Aiyuk earlier this week, he stated that the team was always interested in bringing in good players. He cited their high standing on the waiver wire (third) as a way to obtain talent, in addition to making trades.

However, as I wrote throughout this offseason, there are still several unsigned NFL free agents who could help the New England Patriots. This includes offensive tackles, edge rushers who can put their hand in the dirt, and solid cornerbacks. If improving the talent on the 90-man roster is a priority for the Patriots, they have the money and the ability to sign some of these players.

Perhaps poor performance or injuries in preseason will need to happen before New England (or other NFL teams) pony up the contracts these players are looking for. But the ability to increase the talent in the room is there for the taking.

Joe Milton III = Future Fan Favorite

There is no doubt that quarterback Joe Milton III will be popular in New England. Football has an old saying that the backup quarterback is the most popular guy on the team, especially a struggling team. It certainly felt that way with Bailey Zappe in 2022 and Malik Cunningham in 2023. Joe Milton III could be in line for a Vince Wilfork Award, given to the fans’ favorite New England Patriots player, without taking a single snap. His athletic feats require attention. He possesses a cannon for an arm and has been known to do backflips to further show up his talents. Milton performed a backflip at Friday’s practice. If his football abilities to read defenses and deliver passes accurately catch up to his superhuman abilities, Milton could prove to be the steal of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Stay for a @Qbjayy7 surprise 🔥@NFL | #NEPats pic.twitter.com/T4PKFKLJSY

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 26, 2024

Positive Rehab Reports

Reports regarding the rehab of any player from an injury need to be taken with a grain of salt to some degree. Until the players are on the field and showing they are back at full strength, everything else is speculation. There are still some New England Patriots players in that boat at the moment, including Kendrick Bourne and Cole Strange. But there are several players with positive health outlooks thus far.

The Patriots finished the 2023 season with 15 players on injured reserve, including Bourne and Strange. There is evidence of several players from that group returning to full health in training camp. Among that IR group to be full participants in camp so far are Calvin Anderson, Isaiah Bolden, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Matthew Judon, Raekwon McMillan, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Injuries remain a part of football but the 2023 New England Patriots had more than their fair share. It is nice to see this group back on the field, appearing to be at full speed.

Leadership – Part 2

On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots have Ja’Whaun Bentley running the show from the middle of the field. He follows a long line of leaders in the middle of the defense, including Tedy Bruschi, current head coach Jerod Mayo, and current linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower.

This video clip of Bentley helping his fellow linebackers understand the most effective ways to shed blockers is a prime example of why having a special inside linebacker is like having another coach on the field (1:27 mark).

The sweet sounds of football are back 🗣️

Jerod Mayo & @NVBentley33 mic'd up at #PatsCamp pic.twitter.com/zmu5GVwQxi

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 27, 2024

Happy Birthday Christian Barmore

The New England Patriots’ star defensive tackle turns 25 years old today. It’s not clear if people realize just how young and how good Christian Barmore already is. He should have been an AFC Pro Bowl selection in 2023 and undoubtedly will see his profile increase if the Patriots return to being a winning franchise. Eliot Wolf said part of the “Packer Way” is identifying and extending core players and New England did that with Barmore earlier this offseason. It was a wise move.