The first week of training camp for the New England Patriots is in the books, and while the team has only scratched the surface of the preseason work, enough has happened to get a general sense of where some players currently stand.
That doesn’t mean a struggling player couldn’t turn things around in practice next week or in the team’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. It also doesn’t mean that a player currently with good standing couldn’t slide backwards in the pecking order.
The training camp observation period will stretch on for several more weeks with players vying for a spot on the final 53-man roster. With that said, here are the studs and duds through the Patriots’ first full week of training camp practice:
STUD: QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye went into training camp focused on taking care of the football, and so far, he hasn’t thrown a single interception. It hasn’t all been perfect for the 22-year-old quarterback, who has been up and down with accuracy at times. But there have also been throws that show flashes of him being a future top-10 NFL quarterback. Those are the throws that prove Maye is on course to make a Year 2 leap.
DUD: G Cole Strange
Cole Strange came into camp as the expected starting left guard, but over the last two practices, he has been replaced by rookie interior offensive lineman Jared Wilson. The former first-round draft pick is playing in the final year of his contract and looks to be on borrowed time with the Patriots. It has been an open tryout at left guard throughout the spring and summer practices.
STUD: EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
One of the more underrated free agent signings by the Patriots was the team landing former first-round draft pick K’Lavon Chaisson. They obviously needed a boost after finishing the 2024 season with one of the worst pass rushes in the league. And Chaisson, who has long been perceived as a draft bust, needed an opportunity to change the narrative. It has been a win-win pairing for both up to this point.
DUD: LB Jahlani Tavai
Jahlani Tavai started in 16 games last season, but things could change drastically in the 2025 season. Christian Elliss has continued to work his way up the defensive depth chart, and he might end up being the Patriots’ top option at linebacker across from Robert Spillane. It’s hard to find a fit for Tavai schematically, and injuries have also limited his availability at training camp.
STUD: Demario Douglas
Demario Douglas could be on the verge of a breakout season with Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator. The offensive guru has a long history of turning slot receivers into stars in New England, and so far, he has been off to a great start with Douglas. The third-year wideout has been a steady playmaking presence on the field, and there is no reason to think it won’t carry over into the season.
DUD: G Layden Robinson
There was hope that Layden Robinson could carve out a spot for himself with the top guard unit. Perhaps he’ll still find a way to make some noise later in training camp, but so far, it has been crickets for the second-year offensive lineman. All of the talk has been about Cole Strange, Jared Wilson, Tyrese Robinson and even Caedan Wallace vying for guard snaps. Robinson has somehow gone from projected starter to afterthought.
STUD: DE Keion White
Keion White is looking like a surefire wrecking machine for the Patriots’ defense. He consistently finds himself in the offensive backfield sniffing near the quarterback. The potential has always been there for the third-year defender, but he needs to make the same plays at practice on game days. That’s the only thing standing between him and NFL superstardom.
STUD: CB D.J. James
D.J. James has been one of the bigger surprises in the first week of training camp. The second-year cornerback has made some solid plays in one-on-ones and 11-on-11s. He even got to work in some with the top unit with multiple players out with injuries. No one has taken more advantage of their opportunities than James.
STUD: Stefon Diggs
It hasn’t taken Stefon Diggs long to build chemistry with Drake Maye. He already looks like the second-year quarterback’s security blanket during the competitive team periods. There have been no limitations from Diggs after suffering a season-ending ACL injury with the Houston Texans last October. He looks to be on track to pick back up where he left off before the injury.
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