Pats Pulpit
Training camp begins on Wednesday, July 23.
The New England Patriots are back to work this week as they will hold their first training camp practice of the summer on Wednesday. With things now officially ramping up in preparation for the 2025-26 season, jobs are ready to be won throughout training camp.
Here are the top positional battles we’ll be watching on the practice fields.
After remodeling their offensive line this offseason, the Patriots did not use any significant resources at the left guard spot. The lone addition at guard, veteran Wes Schweitzer, then retired during the offseason program. Who now will align next to rookie left tackle Will Campbell is one of the top question marks entering camp, although Cole Strange is the expected top candidate to begin the summer.
The competition will then truly begin once the pads come on. Sidy Sow and Caedan Wallace project as the top two options to push Strange out of the lineup, while Layden Robinson, Tyrese Robinson, Jack Conley, and Yasir Durant round out the depth chart.
Unlike the left guard spot, the starting center position was fulfilled by the same player throughout OTAs and minicamp. That was veteran Garrett Bradbury, who signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in free agency. New England then, however, added Jared Wilson in the third-round of the NFL Draft.
While Wilson spent the spring limited with injury, he did not land on the Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of camp. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the talented 21-year-old now push Bradbury, who was the worst pass blocking center in football last season, as the summer rolls on.
In a crowded wide receiver room, the Patriots will have to answer both positional and roster battles at the receiver spot. Unfortunately, injuries muddied the picture this spring and will continue to do so with Mack Hollins landing on the PUP list. Stefon Diggs does seem good-to-go from his ACL recovery, however, as he was in the building this weekend.
With a bubble that consists of Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, and Efton Chism, their performances during the summer will ultimately decide roles in the offense and how much depth New England wants to keep at the position.
Neither of the Patriots’ UDFA or second-year tight ends separated themselves behind Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper this spring. But, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so over the next few weeks with Hooper set to miss time starting training camp on the PUP list.
If the Patriots are looking for more receiver upside, Jack Westover, who was given plenty of run in the spring, and Gee Scott would fit the bill. C.J. Dippre’s skillset will show up more-so in padded practices as an in-line blocker. And while it was a challenging spring for Jaheim Bell, perhaps his fit as an H-back separates himself from the group.
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