Besides the inevitable excitement among fans that comes with the Patriots' beginning of training camp, as it means we're that much closer to the start of real football, there is also the intrigue from the forthcoming roster battles. New England is in a unique situation this year with their offense after dealing with the bare minimum, which negatively impacted Drake Maye during his rookie season last year.
Prior to that, Bill Belichick wasn't keen on spending the necessary money to get the caliber of wide receivers in the door, leading Mike Vrabel to prioritize the position this offseason. That has lead to 12 receivers being on the roster heading into training camp and creating an expected intense battle for the few spots available for the 2025 roster.
There are a few players considered locks for the season ahead, like Stefon Diggs and rookie Kyle Williams, leaving many to be vying to follow suit. Fortunately for them, they might be given an unexpected lifeline due to Josh McDaniels' return that could make their path to the team much easier.
Josh McDaniels' previous tenures in New England might dictate the future of roster bubble players
Looking back at the Patriots roster breakdown during McDaniels' previous tenure, the team typically kept between seven and nine receivers on the team. Most of that time was with Tom Brady leading the offense, but the pattern remained in place even after Mac Jones was drafted in 2021.
Given that Maye is a young and developing quarterback, there's reason to believe that the team will want to retain more offensive firepower than maybe anyone might have initially thought. That creates a significant opportunity for players who are considered to be on the fringe heading into training camp, like Javon Baker, Kayshon Boutte, and Ja'Lynn Polk.
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They will still need to have a standout summer to solidify their role on the team, but their chances are certainly heightened if the Patriots continue their pattern of rostering up to nine receivers. On top of that, Diggs potentially starting the year on the PUP list, forcing him to miss at least the first four games, could open the door for someone, too.
It could become a significant factor in how Vrabel makes decisions throughout training camp and the preseason, as well as what he deems best for the offense's chances of success moving forward.