The Patriots’ first mandatory practices of the offseason get underway in Foxborough Tuesday, and although fans can’t attend the three-day minicamp, there are plenty of storylines to follow as New England begins their long quest to get back to the Super Bowl. Here are three things WEEI.com will keep an eye on, as the team huddles up:
Will Christian Gonzalez hold in?
Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a major contract extension, and you better believe he’s going to try to outdo Rams corner Trent McDuffie’s market-setting $100 million guaranteed.
Gonzalez is expected to attend mandatory minicamp, coach Mike Vrabel told media last week. If he no-shows for all three days, (assuming the Patriots hold practice the third day), he would forfeit some $100,000. But all appearances are that Gonzalez and the front office are congenial enough in negotiations that he’ll be onsite, just unlikely to participate in practice before inking his new deal.
Gonzalez, a 2023 first-round draft pick, played in 30 regular season games over the last two years and has earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He recorded a sack and had seven defended passes in four postseason games last winter.
Wide receiver room dynamics
A.J. Brown joined the Patriots in practice during organized team activities last week – returning receiver Kayshon Boutte did not. Boutte told WBZ he plans to attend minicamp, and it will be fascinating to see how the chemistry of a drastically altered receiver room looks. The Patriots cut ties with Stefon Diggs, the room’s leader, back in the spring. They added former Packers wideout Romeo Doubs in free agency and traded for Brown early last week after months of speculation. Now, those two receivers join a room crowded with Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chism. Boutte may be the assumed odd man out, but even if he’s gone by training camp, will New England carry six receivers on the 53-man roster?
Gabe Jacas debut?
The Patriots need to bolster their pass rush, especially with the departure of K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency, who was second in sacks on the team last year. That’s where you’d think rookie Gabe Jacas would enter the picture, but as of Monday evening, Jacas remained the last unsigned pick. As a second-rounder, he may be stuck in negotiations for guaranteed money. Last year’s second-round pick, TreVeyon Henderson, didn’t sign his contract until July. ESPN’s Mike Reiss noted Jacas’ absence through the offseason is injury-related, however.
