5 standout Patriots players from third open OTAs practice
5 standout Patriots players from third open OTAs practice
The New England Patriots kick-started their last week of OTAs with their final open practice for the media on Monday.
Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs made his first appearance at an open practice for the Patriots, but he was a limited participant due to his continued rehab from the ACL injury he suffered last season.
With Kendrick Bourne out and Ja'Lynn Polk limited, that opened the door for other receivers to step into more prominent roles on offense. Speaking of the offense, this was the best practice by the unit through all three of the open OTA sessions.
It was a good way to wrap up for an offense that ranked among the worst in the league last season. They have dealt with numerous changes in the offseason, and things appear to be trending in the right direction.
Here are five standout players from the Patriots' third OTAs practice:
WR Efton Chism III
Undrafted rookie Efton Chism III is quickly becoming one of the most surprising storylines of the Patriots' offseason. The run of strong performances continued on Monday for the former Eastern Washington standout, who hauled in a perfect 7-of-7 passes thrown in his direction.
He was getting the top reps with Drake Maye on the field, along with Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams.
QB Drake Maye
This was a major bounce-back practice for Drake Maye and the Patriots' offense. The second-year quarterback looked sharp in competitive 11-on-11s, going 14-of-16 passing during the practice. It was a good sign to see the offense finally settle into things and get some wins against the defense.
Maye's confidence continues to grow every time he steps onto the field, and that should only continue as he becomes more comfortable with Josh McDaniels' offense.
S Josh Minkins
Undrafted rookie safety Josh Minkins gets a mention here for his interception on fellow rookie Ben Wooldridge. It was the only interception of the competitive period. Minkins will need more plays like that in training camp, given the ridiculous competition at safety this year. Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers sit at the top of the depth chart with Marte Mapu, Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus and rookie Craig Woodson currently serving as the reserve options.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Don't forget about Rhamondre Stevenson.
It's crazy that it even needs to be said about the guy at the top of the running back depth chart. Stevenson probably had the best play of the practice after hauling in a dime of a throw from Drake Maye on a deep wheel route down the sideline. Even with the arrival of explosive rookie TreVeyon Henderson, Stevenson will still have a major role on the Patriots' offense.
WR Demario Douglas
Demario Douglas was the Patriots' leading wide receiver for the 2024 season. Even with the new receiver additions, Douglas continues to prove how valuable he is to the offense. He snagged all four of the balls thrown in his direction at Monday's practice.
It will be fun to see what Douglas is capable of in an offense where he isn't perceived as the top receiving threat. The arrival of Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams could open up even more opportunities for him to make plays in the slot.
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