10 big questions Patriots face this summer in training camp

Before the Patriots battle other teams they must fight amongst themselves during training camp for roster spots and starting slots But finalizing the -man roster is far off in the horizon for the Patriots as they begin training camp practices Wednesday Here are questions they face as the start of the season unofficially begins Can Drake Maye continue upward trajectory The Patriots season was a calamity that saw first-year head coach Jerod Mayo fired directly following a Week loss to the Bills There were sparse silver linings to the season but one was the performance of rookie quarterback Drake Maye who completed of his passes for yards with touchdowns and interceptions with rushing attempts for yards with two more scores Maye was shaky in his first spring practice in front of reporters throwing four interceptions in the unpadded voluntary organized group exercises session The media was not permitted to watch every OTAs practice but Maye revealed improvement through the spring sessions Now with pads being introduced a week into training camp Maye will face his next test to see if he can continue to acclimate into new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels offense Will defense return to dominance Maye should be better this season and the Patriots offensive line and skill-position groups have seen slight improvements But if this is going to be a truly thriving season for the Patriots with an increase in winning percentage they ll need to be dominated by the defensive side of the ball The Patriots brought in plenty of help on defense acquiring defensive tackle Milton Williams linebackers Robert Spillane and Harold Landry and cornerback Carlton Davis among others A third-year leap from Christian Gonzalez also could help him ascend from second-year All-Pro to one of the championship s best defenders There are high hopes for the defense with Mike Vrabel as head coach and Terrell Williams leading the unit Williams missed the spring with an undisclosed health condition leaving inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr to lead the unit Here s hoping Williams has had a return to full soundness How does Josh McDaniels offense shift Quarterbacks other than Tom Brady have played under McDaniels but the OC saw his best success with TB under center Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time but Maye s combination of accuracy and mobility could unlock new elements in McDaniels system Former OC Alex Van Pelt barely let Maye loose on designed runs last season That should change in McDaniels the bulk mobile QB Cam Newton was allowed plenty of freedom to run If that season when Newton served as McDaniels QB is any indication then there should also be plenty of play-action in Maye s arsenal Can new tackles settle offensive line The Patriots made protecting Maye a bigger priority this season signing right tackle Morgan Moses and selecting left tackle Will Campbell fourth overall Vrabel and executive vice president of participant personnel Eliot Wolf also added veteran center Garrett Bradbury in free agency and selected rookie center Jared Wilson in the third round So things should be better for Maye who was constantly under duress in this season Will the unit rank among the league s best Supposedly not Moses is on the downturn of his career Campbell likely won t be an All-Pro out of the gate there are questions with Bradbury and Wilson and the left guard position is still unsettled across from starting right guard Mike Onwenu But on paper this group should be better What are open starting battles The starting lineup seems pretty well set at quarterback Maye running back Rhamondre Stevenson tight end Hunter Henry left tackle Campbell right guard Onwenu right tackle Moses defensive tackle Williams and Christian Barmore edge Landry and Keion White one off-ball linebacker Spillane and cornerback Gonzalez and Davis but there are still feasible questions at wide receiver left guard center linebacker the slot and safety We ll get into wide receiver and safety in a minute but Cole Strange is the favorite at left guard Bradbury and Wilson will fight it out at center Christian Elliss and Jahlani Tavai are top contenders at linebacker and Marcus Jones will likely be the top slot cornerback Is Stefon Diggs ready Diggs the top offseason addition on offense was limited in the spring and he needed to pass a physical to earn guarantees in his contract It seems like a good sign that he avoided the PUP list to start training camp He already had one offseason hiccup getting videotaped handing out a pink substance on a boat But his recovery from a torn ACL is even more essential for the veteran receiver and his new association Who emerges at wide receiver Assuming full soundness of all competitors Diggs and DeMario Douglas slot look like starters Things get messy after that with Javon Baker Kendrick Bourne Kayshon Boutte Efton Chism Mack Hollins Ja Lynn Polk and Kyle Williams all vying for roles and roster spots How does Vrabel view safety group Safety has been a major strength of the Patriots defense for the last decade-plus Following Devin McCourty s retirement Mayo and Bill Belichick both proved a willingness to play Dugger and Peppers both traditionally strong safeties in the free and strong safety spots If Vrabel wants a more rangy free safety it could open up a staring spot for rookie Craig Woodson or veteran addition Marcus Epps Jaylinn Hawkins and Dell Pettus are also deserving of roster spots and defensive roles Will an undrafted rookie emerge The Patriots typically see an undrafted free agent earn a roster spot during training camp Wide receiver Efton Chism made the strongest occurrence in the spring but running back Lan Larison fullback Brock Lampe quarterback Ben Wooldridge tight end CJ Dippre and offensive lineman Jack Conley could also made a push How a great number of rookies will remain in specialist group The Patriots elected not to re-sign kicker Joey Slye then published long-time long snapper Joe Cardona this offseason They were replaced by rookie kicker Andres Borregales and long snapper Julian Ashby through the draft Ashby at the moment doesn t have any competition for a roster spot while Borregales will need to beat out veteran John Parker Romo