Patriots mailbag: Is there a next Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers on roster?

The Patriots wrapped up their three weeks of voluntary organized squad exercises practices and now are onto mandatory minicamp before taking a six-week break Let s preview minicamp with the latest installment of a Patriots mailbag DrakeMayeForMVP How has Maye looked after the INT day Bulk importantly improved Growing pains are natural with a new offensive coordinator in a new offense and I think that s what we were seeing early on with Drake Maye during OTAs when he threw four interceptions in his first eight passing attempts in the first spring practice open to the media Related Articles Patriots assistant coaches helping to form Josh McDaniels offense Patriots assistant Zak Kuhr guiding defense as interim coordinator in OTAs Patriots LB Jahlani Tavai sidelined until training camp with new injury Patriots defense Mike Vrabel s coaching benefitting Will Campbell Too much pressure Patriots OC Josh McDaniels not worried about Drake Maye Since then Maye avoided turnovers in the second OTA session open to reporters though he still struggled with accuracy On Monday in the Patriots third open practice of the spring Maye was -of- didn t throw any interceptions and started to connect deep late in the session Maye will likely struggle again at a few point this spring or summer as he takes new approaches under McDaniels but it s nice to see specific early enhancement from Maye in Year NEPatriot USA With McDaniels back and with a very versatile and athletic set of WRs anyone who can throw the ball too ala Jakoby Meyers Edelman etc Yes certainly Patriots third-round pick Kyle Williams was the starting quarterback at Hawthorne High School in Southern California during his junior season before moving to wide receiver Fun fact Four of The Beach Boys Brian Dennis and Carl Wilson and Al Jardine went to Hawthorne High School Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu also went to Hawthorne Williams is a lefty passer who was -of- for yards with touchdowns and seven interceptions in He then transferred to St Monica Catholic High where he switched positions to wide receiver javonsburner A lot of people are taking about what receivers get cut But I m questioning the RB position Rhamondre and Treveyon are locks but what are the chances Gibson is cut and Larison makes the crew as rb special teams participant The Patriots kept five running backs Rex Burkhead Brandon Bolden Mike Gillislee Dion Lewis and James White for the season So I don t think it s an either or situation with Antonio Gibson and undrafted free agent Lan Larison That being noted I haven t seen anything that would indicate that Larison would be kept over Gibson TheChowdaCrowd Will TreVeyon Henderson get most of of the RB work load That wouldn t be my expectation at this point It looks like Rhamondre Stevenson will be the starting running back though obviously things can change if Henderson looks better or if Stevenson s ball-security issues continue There are people in the organization who believe Henderson can be a three-down running back but given his size he might need to prove it first He s -foot- pounds which is typically the body type for a third-down back in McDaniels offense The Patriots have used undersized running backs on early downs in the past however with Lewis and Danny Woodhead being prime examples I would expect Henderson to be a change-of-pace back early in his career but I believe he has the probable to be a starter RavDiss Any foresight for Drake Maye designed runs in Sleeper MVP candidate if he gets these from McDaniels Nothing so far during OTAs but McDaniels used Cam Newton on a ton of designed runs during the season Newton ran the ball times and only of those were scrambles I can t imagine Maye having designed runs this season he had nine last season jabo What is an under the radar position battle we should pay more attention to Linebacker and safety Robert Spillane will be one starting linebacker and then it appears Jahlani Tavai who injured his calf on Monday and Christian Elliss will be competing for the other spot But even beyond them you have Jack Gibbens and Monty Rice both of whom have played for head coach Mike Vrabel competing with Cam Riley and Marte Mapu for roster spots And then at safety you have a crowded group of Kyle Dugger Jabrill Peppers Marcus Epps Craig Woodson Jaylinn Hawkins Dell Pettus Brenden Schooler and Josh Minkins competing for five or six spots DavidFallon I keep hearing the Pats will supposedly have to make a decision on Boutte or Bourne Do you think one has the edge over the other I wouldn t necessarily narrow it down to Kayshon Boutte or Kendrick Bourne Beyond Stefon Diggs Kyle Williams and Mack Hollins it feels like everyone else is competing for a roster spot at wide receiver between Bourne Boutte Javon Baker Demeer Blankumsee Efton Chism DeMario Douglas John Jiles Ja Lynn Polk and Jeremiah Webb Bourne has a better track record and experience under McDaniels but Boutte is younger and looked like the better player last season I don t think one has the edge at this point RickJuan If things are going well this season but the patriots feel they need more piece on offense or defense Based on Free agents who do you think can shake free via commerce that can put the patriots over the hump to make a deep playoff run There are specific good wide receivers in contract years including Terry McLaurin Mike Evans Courtland Sutton and Jakobi Meyers I d start looking there Particular decent tackles could hit free agency as well