4 under-the-radar players to keep an eye on during Patriots training camp

Like any start to training camp, there are players that just about everyone is paying attention to. Whether it be the quarterback, the star wide receiver, or the dominant defensive end, the fan-favorite players are typically the most observed, no matter what.

But then there are the guys that fly a bit more under the radar, who tend to have impressive outings in the summer yet don't receive the same buzz their bigger-name teammates do.

Of course, guys like Mac Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Matthew Judon will be discussed the most; and for the most part, it makes sense that they would be.

However, fans should keep an eye on a few players who may have a standout summer and could become integral parts of the team come September.

This is just four of those guys.

Pierre Strong Jr.

There is a lot of talk regarding the Patriots' running backs right now, and not in the usual way that most would assume at this point in the offseason.

The Patriots are very fortunate to have a workhorse as their RB1 for at least two more years in Rhamondre Stevenson, and there is no question about his status heading into the upcoming year. At this point, the question that needs to be answered is who will become second in line to help split the snaps with Stevenson.

Over the last two years, that has been Damien Harris. But as we all know, he signed with the Bills in free agency a few months ago. That leaves Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. to step up in his place and become the type of player the Patriots (and even Stevenson) need on the offense.

Although we haven't seen much from either second-year running back, Strong's resume and big play ability seen from his limited involvement last season seem to have pulled him ahead of Harris in the race to become the backup running back.

He was another player drafted for his speed, as he was the fastest at the position of the entire 2022 class, and he definitely displayed that last year when he ran 44 yards down the field against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football.

Strong's experience as a pass-catcher will also be a massive benefit for him, as Belichick loves to utilize running backs in as many roles as possible. That could put him on the fast track to the roster over Harris, who is not known for those same abilities.

If he can display all the reasons he was drafted and prove he can be a reliable RB2 behind Stevenson, he makes the team. But besides Harris, he may have to deal with more competition in the coming days since the Patriots are actively looking to add another back to the roster, with Ezekiel Elliott as the latest free agent to visit the team.

It will undoubtedly be one of the most watched roster battles of the summer.

Demario Douglas

With such a need at wide receiver, the fact that through training camp thus far, sixth-round draft pick Demario Douglas is consistently impressing is a very good sign.

Typically, there aren't many expectations placed on a late-round draft pick, but there was a lot of conversation surrounding the other sixth-round receiver the Patriots drafted earlier this year, Kayshon Boutte.

Because he was once considered a first-round prospect, New England snagging him so late was deemed one of the potential steals of the class. Unfortunately for Boutte, though, Douglas has dominated headlines through training camp so far and looks like a near roster lock come September.

Although it hasn't been a week of summer practices yet, Douglas has been a standout. His speed has been the most noticeable, which is one reason the Patriots drafted him, and he's been working with the first-team offense run by Mac Jones so far.

As the competitiveness of practices will be increasing shortly, it will better indicate where Douglas stands amongst his pass-catching teammates. It's clear from his work ethic and ability to catch on to how things are done in the NFL so quickly that he has all the tools to become a member of the final 53-man roster.

And he's made quite an impression on Bill Belichick as well, not just from his physical abilities, but his mentality is what has stood out most to the head coach.

"Demario’s working at returns and offensively inside and outside, so it’s a big jump for him from a competition level in college, but he seems to be transitioning pretty well. He’s a smart kid. He picks things up well, learns quickly, so all things that work in his favor, but we’ll see how it goes when things get more competitive next week."

With so many question marks regarding how Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton will look during the next few weeks, Douglas should be one to watch.

He likely won't leapfrog over any veteran receivers, but if he can continue to stand out for his performance on and off the field, there's no reason to believe he won't make the team in some capacity.

Cole Strange

Because the Patriots decided to take a guard in the first round of the 2022 draft and create quite a controversy for doing so, there was a lot of pressure put on Cole Strange to live up to what the team apparently saw in him.

He was an immediate starter as a rookie and, from the very start of the season, looked every bit worth the risk of being taken much earlier than anticipated in the draft.

That didn't last throughout the entire season, though, and questions began to flood in regarding the choice to not only take Strange in the first round but also have him as a starter upon immediately joining the NFL.

Fortunately for the young lineman, others around him struggled more than he did and were labeled a liability for how often they were being flagged or failing at protecting the quarterback. But the good thing is, Belichick raved about the progress he has made during the offseason so far and gushed about how much better he looks from just one year ago.

"He had a great offseason. Had an opportunity to train this offseason. He really took advantage of that physically. Obviously, mentally he is light years ahead of where he was like all rookies are.

Knowing what they expect, knowing the offense, knowing defenses, and can anticipate things better. His communication is way better on the offensive line, experience. Yeah, he had a really good offseason, and it has been evident all through the spring, even a few days out here."

Because practices have not been physical yet, there's not much to evaluate regarding Strange's performance through training camp so far.

But with the tempo expected to pick up in the coming days, it will provide a better opportunity to see the improvements Strange has made since last year, making him an easy under-the-radar option to watch throughout the summer.

Conor McDermott

There has been a strong emphasis on the need for a much improved offensive line this upcoming season, which is a big reason why there was an overall disappointment that Belichick didn't prioritize the position in free agency or the draft.

The unit struggled sporadically during the 2022 season, with Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown leading the problems, and only a few seasoned veterans were signed in the spring to help improve the roster.

One of those players was a former sixth-round pick for New England, Conor McDermott.

He was signed in late October of last season to hopefully bring some stability to the inconsistent offensive line, and his performance then earned him a two-year contract extension earlier this year. Although he isn't an exciting name to watch for, his performance through training camp so far shows he could be an integral piece of the offensive come the regular season.

McDermott began training camp with the second-string offense, but his performance impressed the coaches enough to move him to the starting offense. He replaced another free agent signee, Riley Reiff, taking over at right tackle for a good portion of the third summer practice.

Given the current state of the right side of the line in particular, McDermott has a prime opportunity to become the starter for the season ahead. There was a scenario floating around that Trent Brown could possibly remain on the right side, as he did for some of last season, but the Patriots veteran seems to have locked down the left tackle position.

So far, so good for McDermott, though, who will have some competition for the spot with Reiff and newly signed Calvin Anderson. It is certainly a position to watch this summer, as it will remain one of the most important roster battles over the next month.