July 23, 2026, 10:09 a.m. ET
While there are certainly main things everyone is wondering heading into the New England Patriots’ training camp, today, we’re going to highlight two of the most burning questions. 1.
Will the Patriots resolve their contract situations with two key players? All eyes are on Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots for when the inevitable contract extension will happen. The star cornerback has made it clear he would like to remain in New England, and the team has expressed similar sentiments.
But now, it’s all about ironing out a deal and putting pen to paper. A recent report shed some light on what is holding up this deal, suggesting that Devon Witherspoon’s extension with the Seahawks, which has yet to be agreed upon, will play a factor in how much Gonzalez makes going forward. And it’s worth noting that the two are represented by the same agents. Gonzalez took part in the mandatory minicamp in a limited capacity, doing the individual drills as well as the walkthrough, but did not take part in the higher-speed team sessions.
That would likely be the case going forward until a deal is agreed upon. But that’s not all.
The Patriots are also dealing with a contract situation regarding their 2026 second-round pick, edge Gabe Jacas. He was absent for all of the spring as well as the early summer sessions, with his only appearance so far being at rookie minicamp, when he stood to the side, not taking part in practice. NFL Insider Albert Breer recently suggested during an appearance on NBC Sports Boston that Jacas could be a “redshirt year for him,” meaning he will sit out his entire rookie season. And with his potential absence, another question that arises is how the depth chart will play out at the edge position.
2. How will the wide receiver depth chart shake out? Another key area that everyone will be keeping an eye on is the very, very crowded wide receiver room. And it will be interesting to see who Drake Maye seems to be going to more often than not during the preseason. The expectation is that A.J. Brown will serve as the team’s true No.
1 receiver, but otherwise, the spots are up for grabs. Kayshon Boutte is another talented deep ball threat, but has been the subject of trade rumors due to the Brown acquisition. DeMario Douglas is someone Maye was targeting heavily during the spring and early summer, while the team also brought in Romeo Doubs and has Mack Hollins, who both provide a stable veteran presence on the field. Kyle Williams is entering his second year, with many expecting and hoping to see a major jump from him, while fan-favorite Efton Chism looks to solidify his spot. The team also has Nick DeGennaro, Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner, Jimmy Kibble, and Jeremiah Webb, who are going in with the hope of carving out a role. With all these options for Maye, it will be quite fun to watch the team drills and see who the quarterback is targeting most. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
