5 standout players in Day 1 of Patriots training camp
Drills were the primary focus in this setting.
There are high expectations for the Patriots this year, despite the team finishing last season with a 4-13 record. Coach Mike Vrabel brought in a more experienced coaching staff and made significant upgrades on offense and defense throughout the offseason.
This was the first opportunity for fans to see the new-look Patriots in person, and it wasn't a practice that disappointed. Multiple players on the roster boosted their stock a little higher after Day 1 of training camp.
Here are the five standout players from the first practice:
DL Keion White
Patriots edge rusher Keion White has plenty of untapped potential as a defensive player. Perhaps this will be his breakout year with many of the improvements along the defensive front. He flashed his disruptive abilities at Wednesday's practice by plowing through rookie left tackle Will Campbell on a play for a would-be sack on Drake Maye.
QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye looked sharp during the 11-on-11 period at Wednesday's practice, completing 8-of-9 of his passes against the defense. It was promising to see him link up with newcomers Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams a couple of times in practice. The growing chemistry he develops with his new receiving weapons could be key in the offense finding a pulse for the first time in three years.
CB DJ James
DJ James getting the first interception at training camp wasn't on anyone's Bingo card. The second-year cornerback undercut a poorly thrown ball by veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs and came up with the takeaway. It was a heads-up play that resulted in the only forced turnover for the defense in the practice.
WR Kyle Williams
Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams worked in with the first-team offense and made a couple of nice grabs during practice. One play in particular was a comeback route with All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez in coverage. It was an impressive showing for a young player who will likely see many more balls thrown in his direction throughout training camp.
WR Stefon Diggs
It didn't take long for Stefon Diggs and Drake Maye to get on the same page. Maye found the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver on a short crosser for his first completion in training camp. Diggs came away with two receptions during the practice. It was impressive that he was even on the field in the first place after tearing his ACL last October with the Houston Texans.
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