There’s no shortage of interesting storylines in Foxboro with New England Patriots’ OTAs underway.
A.J. Brown remains the center of attention as we inch closer to June 1, when the Patriots could complete their expected trade for the Philadelphia Eagles’ star wide receiver. As for players currently on the roster, cornerback Christian Gonzalez and WR Kayshon Boutte were noteworthy absences from OTAs. Gonzalez is looking for a lucrative contract extension, while Boutte has been the subject of trade rumors.
Where would the Patriots’ WR room rank with Brown and without Boutte? What might a Gonzalez trade look like? And how will they handle Hunter Henry’s salary after revising Mike Onwenu’s on Friday?
We answered those questions and more in a brand new mailbag. Let’s dive in.
Editor’s Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity.
Are the Pats OK with Hunter Henry’s salary? They reduced Mike Onwenu’s, so moving on to the next highest non-guaranteed — @bring0723
I think it’s a fair question, Bring, given what just happened with Mike Onwenu. The veteran right guard went into this offseason with no guaranteed dollars left on his deal — meaning the Patriots could move on from him prior to the start of the regular season without taking a real financial hit — and he was willing to accept a reduced rate in order to guarantee himself some dough for this coming season. He’s still scheduled to hit free agency in 2027.
Something similar could play out with Henry. Especially if he’s looking for some guaranteed dollars but the team is reluctant to provide those in the form of a long-term extension; Henry is going into his age-32 season. The situation is different from Onwenu’s, though, since Henry’s base salary for this season is $7.15 million (with another $1 million in per-game roster bonuses), per Over the Cap. That’s significantly less than what Onwenu was owed had he played out the final year of his contract as previously structured.
Henry may very well prefer to go into the season (and training camp) with some guarantees in his deal to protect against injury. He’s a dependable pass-catcher, a proven performer in the Josh McDaniels offense, and he’s been a captain the last three seasons. Maybe there’s a short extension in play here for both sides that makes sense.
But if his deal goes untouched, it feels like a pact the Patriots would be OK with given the value Henry provides. Those numbers aren’t exorbitant. There are 17 tight ends in the NFL scheduled to make more in 2026 than Henry, per OTC.
Do you see Eli Raridon taking the TE2 spot? Or does Julian Hill have that for you? — @NinjaCoach_J
Let’s stick with some tight end talk here, Ninja Coach. It’s early, but I believe Julian Hill is going to have a real role in this offense. He isn’t necessarily known for being a prolific pass-catcher, but his blocking will get him (and keep him) on the field.
He’s also not a non-factor as a receiver. He might’ve had the catch of the day at OTAs earlier this week. It was a twisting, back-hip snag down the seam with Drake Maye seemingly placing the ball behind Hill in order to keep the tight end away from a safety in the middle of the field. Impressive ball-tracking and coordination there in order to complete the catch.
Might Eli Raridon overtake Hill eventually? That’d be my guess. He was a third-round pick and has excellent physical traits. But I’m not sure that happens this year. Too soon to tell. Hill is the guy behind Henry for now, in my opinion.
Phil Perry talks with Notre Dame OC/TE Coach Mike Denbrock to get a detailed scouting report on the 95th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Is there a backup QB competition? — @patsfan4life129
It’s Tommy DeVito until further notice. Quick release. The ability to create with his legs a bit. Experience. Makes sense for him to be the No. 2 until they see so much from rookie Behren Morton (or someone else) that necessitates a change.
I’m worried about our defense. No real nose tackle, old/rookie edge rushers, Christian Gonzalez holding out, old/no linebacker depth. How concerned are you with not really getting better on the defensive side when it seems most competitive playoff teams have a killer D? — @BManRicks34
Good news and bad news, B.
You’re right. They look thin on the edge and at linebacker. I think there should be some genuine concern that against the best offenses — ones that can string together lengthy drives one after the next — their front could get worn down.
But the good news is that, on paper, they’ve improved on that side of the ball. Let’s assume Christian Gonzalez is out there and ready to go for Week 1. They’re better in the secondary with Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson going into Year 2. And while thin, I think they actually have a chance to be better on the edge than they were a year ago. Harold Landry will have to stay healthy and they’ll need to get good production from Dre’Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas to help fill the void left by K’Lavon Chaisson. But I think that’s possible.
It’s not perfect on that side of the ball. For sure. They’ll need to scheme some things up. But we’ve seen this movie before. Their defense got them to the Super Bowl last season, and I think it has a real shot to be a better unit in 2026.
Does Christina Gonzalez’ absence have anything to do with his contract? Mike Vrabel weighs in.
Assuming the A.J. Brown deal gets done, and Kayshon Boutte is shipped to a new home, where would you rank the WR room league-wide on paper? — @noochywallace
Good question. I think it’s fair to immediately throw the Rams, Bengals and Cowboys toward the top of the heap if we’re looking solely at the receiver positions. I’ll also put the Vikings — with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and now Jauan Jennings — in that upper tier.
But — with A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and more — I think the Patriots receiver corps in totality would be right in that next tier. I’d include the Lions there with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. I’d put the Texans in there with Nico Collins, Tank Dell and the Iowa State youngsters.
I think I’d have the Patriots ahead of the Broncos (Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton) for this coming season, but it’s close. Ditto for the Seahawks (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed), despite them having one of the best receivers in football.
I like the Jets receiver room with Garrett Wilson and Omar Cooper Jr., but I’d have New England ahead of them. The Jaguars are balanced with Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington, but Thomas Jr.’s season last season was an odd one to gauge. Until he re-establishes himself as a No. 1, I’d have them behind the Brown-led Patriots, too.
Devonta Smith and Makai Lemon could be excellent, but let’s see on the rookie. I’m also intrigued by the Rome Odunze and Luther Burden combo in Chicago, but I wouldn’t put them ahead of New England just yet.
Let’s call it… the sixth or seventh-best receiver room in the NFL? Something like that.
Phil Perry and Tom E. Curran discuss why it makes sense if Kayshon Boutte wants out of New England on a New Patriots Talk Podcast.
Stefon Diggs? If not, why not? — @NEPatriot_USA
If this trade that we all believe is about to happen happens, it’s a crowded room. Remember, when the Patriots use heavy personnel packages, there might only be two receivers on the field at one time. That could happen frequently. I’m not positive there would be enough snaps or footballs to go around if you add another high-profile wideout to the mix as currently constituted.
If the Patriots were to move on from Christian Gonzalez, what is a realistic compensation package? Also, if they move on from him, what is going on with L’Jarius Sneed? — @MarkReadsComics
Mark, the Jets received two first-rounders and receiver Adonai Mitchell when they dealt away Sauce Gardner last year. That should be the type of haul Christian Gonzalez nets the Patriots should they look to deal him.
Sneed has played just 12 games over the last two seasons. Has been banged up and hasn’t yet been picked up since being released by the Titans earlier this offseason.
I know 12 personnel is trendy right now, but could Josh McDaniels actually favor 11 personnel more in the run game? The Patriots have three big physical receivers (A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Mack Hollins) along with Julian Hill that could create mismatches against nickel packages. — @Thecolours
Excellent call, Corey. Could certainly see that happening. They did some of that last season — using Hollins specifically almost as a hybrid tight end — and looked limited at times once Hollins went down injured late in the year.
They have so many fullbacks and tight ends on the roster, though, my guess is they are going to want to go with some heavier personnel packages fairly frequently. They’ll want to force defenses to get some bigger bodies onto the field and put those bigger bodies into situations they’re relatively unaccustomed to.
But if there’s an opponent that is thin at corner, and if the Patriots feel good about their ability to overpower teams with three receivers on the field, that’s playing a different angle of the matchup game that could be just as effective.
Is Christian Gonzalez going to show up at MANDATORY minicamp, and if he doesn’t, what does that mean? —@nkeman3
It means fines (we’ll get to the amounts below). And it means Christian Gonzalez is serious about not putting himself at risk until he gets a new deal. It’s important to note: We don’t know if that’s where this is going. But we’ve seen it with other players in the past. And withholding services is one bit of leverage players hold when looking for market-setting deals.
The easier thing for Gonzalez to do might be to show up to minicamp and simply not practice. That would be the proverbial “hold in” we see at times during training camp. You’re at the meetings. You’re around your teammates. You’re just not on the field when it’s time to practice.
If Gonzalez were to steer clear of the team entirely during that mandatory three-day period, the fines would add up. The six-figure sum, however, is relative peanuts compared to the dollars Gonzalez could stand to lose should he be injured prior to signing a new deal. Missing the first day of minicamp, per OTC, would cost him $17,986. Missing the second day would cost him $35,973. Missing the third day would cost him $53,952. In total, it would add up to $107,911.
