Every year on every team, coaches and players alike will tell you that everyone competes for a spot on the roster. No matter who they are, how long they have been on the team, or their position, nothing in football is guaranteed.
So even though that's nothing new, the Patriots have key roster battles that can play a big part in how the team looks heading into the season.
What makes things a little more interesting is that there are still two roster spots for the Patriots to fill. That could increase competition amongst certain players or positions, creating a new set of battles we are yet to know about.
However, with that said, there are four positions we do know will see players competing to stand out and secure a roster spot that will be the most must-see feuds of the summer.
Wide receiver
With the departure of the most recent WR1, Jakobi Meyers, this offseason and the arrival of JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Patriots' receiving corps will look a lot different in 2023.
Because Smith-Schuster seemingly replaced Meyers on the team, the assumption has been that he will immediately slide to the top of the depth chart. Although that's possible, and training camp will answer that, it seems premature to write off Kendrick Bourne or DeVante Parker to take that position instead.
Based on what we saw from Bourne last season, there hasn't been much optimism regarding his game. He went from having the best season of his career in 2021 with the Patriots to nearly falling entirely off the map the following year.
Why that may have happened could be debated for hours, but from the work we've seen Bourne putting in this offseason, it's clear he is far more motivated and determined to get back to the type of player he was just two years ago.
He's addressed his failures and setbacks of last season, even acknowledging he wasn't in the right mindset nor putting in the appropriate work to be an asset on the team, and vowed not to repeat that this year.
But can we rely on that? Was Matt Patricia's influence really what held him back? Or was it more than that, like a decline in performance that may show up again this year?
As training camp begins next week, we'll surely find out, so don't rule out Bourne's potential to move up the depth chart again.
Then there's Parker, who was recently extended with a new contract that keeps him in New England through 2025. It was initially an unexpected re-signing, as the general belief was that he would be on the roster bubble throughout the summer.
However, with few receivers on the roster next season, it made sense to retain Parker ahead of time, even if he does become trade leverage down the road.
As for the upcoming season, he will continue to serve as the group's big-bodied, contested catch receiver and consistently be the deep threat Mac Jones will need, especially as they hope to be more efficient in the end zone.
However, the biggest issue he will need to overcome to secure himself the top spot as the WR1 will be improving his skill of gaining separation from defenders. Parker has consistently fallen to the bottom of the league in that measurement, which isn't helpful for an offense needing a significant boost.
Watching these two compete in training camp will be one of the most must-see roster battles of the season, especially with so much on the line for both of them.
Kicker
It has been quite some time since we've seen an intriguing special teams roster battle in New England, but after Belichick selected the best kicker (and punter) in the draft, we will most definitely see a battle of the kickers this summer.
After all of the recent mishaps the Patriots have had in finding themselves a competent kicker, they really lucked out when signing 35-year-old Nick Folk in 2019.
He was initially brought in as a replacement of a replacement since longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski had been placed on injured reserve in early October. Mike Nugent had been signed to take his place but only lasted for four games before being released.
Folk was signed shortly after that, released a month later when the team signed another kicker, but was brought back a week later and has been with the team since.
Through his four seasons with the Patriots, Folk has become one of the most reliable players on the roster. He hasn't been perfect, but his effort and consistency have helped win several games throughout that time, making him a valuable member of the team.
Now coming into the 2023 season, he's coming off a year where he missed five field goals and three extra points, which is pretty decent. But he will be turning 39 this year, and it's difficult to know whether his slight decline in performance is due to age or skill, making his spot on the team a bit unsafe entering training camp.
He will compete with rookie Chad Ryland, who the Patriots traded up for to select in the fourth round of this year's draft. It was shocking, as not many teams would trade up to get a kicker, but it proved how much Belichick and Co. prioritized the position well before the upcoming season.
Considered one of the best kickers of the class, Ryland will have some expectations to live up to, with some tough competition as well. Folk didn't have too much decline last season to instill overwhelming concern regarding his performance, but the team is clearly preparing for the future by moving to take Ryland.
There will almost certainly be a roster battle between the two kickers, with not much to currently go off of to indicate who will come out the victor.
It's safest to say that both will make the team. Folk will provide the veteran security and mentorship, while Ryland will have the opportunity to gain experience and learn from a great performer. But things change quickly in the NFL, so anything can happen.
Running back
Unlike last season when there was an apparent battle for the coveted RB1 spot between Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, who will be the go-to out of the backfield is not up for debate.
It's Stevenson.
But what is up for debate and yet to be determined is who will be helping to split the snap counts with him. The release of James Robinson earlier this year leaves Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. competing for the backup role.
Harris and Strong are entering their second NFL season and had little involvement last year. But Strong did accomplish a bit more, totaling ten carries for 100 yards and a touchdown to Harris' 18 carries for 52 yards and a score.
In his limited action, Strong showed the explosiveness he was known for during his time at South Dakota State. On top of that, his growing experience as a receiver gives him an edge for the number two role over Harris, whose involvement in that area has varied from season to season.
Since Damien Harris wasn't reliable as a pass-catcher through his four seasons in New England, it's fair to assume that Strong's skillset better matches what the Patriots will need from their running backs to accommodate their offense and Stevenson the most.
If Strong can be reliable running the football and as a receiver, sitting right behind Stevenson will be his job to lose. Harris will also have the opportunity, but he will almost certainly have far more obstacles to overcome to beat out Strong in the coming weeks.
Offensive line
This is probably one of the least surprising roster battles we know about heading into training camp.
After what was a roller coaster of a season from the entirety of the offensive line, maybe minus just Michael Onwenu, veteran and rookie additions accompanied by a competent o-line coach are exactly the changes needed to get the unit back on track.
Although the line struggled unanimously throughout last year, a few players will not be battling it out to secure a spot; David Andrews, Onwenu, and Cole Strange are likely the safest bets not to worry about being cut.
The most questionable spots to fill will be right and left tackle, which were consistently problematic and a liability throughout last season.
One of the biggest issues of all has now moved on to the Dolphins in free agency, Isaiah Wynn. However, the other disappointing performer, Trent Brown, has created a messy drama for himself during the offseason.
It all began when Brown was noticeably missing during OTAs, not a good sign for a team needing veteran leadership to help steer the ship ahead of the upcoming season. Belichick addressed his initial absence, revealing Brown's flight to Foxboro had been canceled due to weather.
It was an understandable excuse, especially given the massive cancellations by airlines in recent months. But Brown was never seen during the rest of the practices, calling Belichick's response more into question.
Now with training camp right around the corner, there is a bit of uncertainty regarding Brown's status with the team.
Will he be present? Will he be motivated to re-earn his spot on the offensive line? Time will tell.
In the meantime, Calvin Anderson and Riley Reiff were signed this offseason for much-needed depth to the o-line while simultaneously adding competition to those already rostered. Although neither has been entirely impressive during their respective careers, both bring experience and the possibility of replacing a starter if needed in the near future.
Since they both are known to play right tackle, and Brown has been a consistent swing tackle for the Patriots, they could replace Brown on the right side if they can prove worth the risk.
Regardless, they will be competing for a starting position, whether against each other or just Brown; it will be fun to watch over the next month and a half.