New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, right, talks with quarterback Drake Maye (10) during an NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) AP

At the end of this month, the real competition begins.

When the Patriots start training camp on July 23, it’ll give us a real look at the roster since the players will eventually be allowed to wear pads and hit one another. When that happens, the Patriots will get a better idea of what they have on the roster.

For several players, the heat turns up in August in more ways than one. It’s this time of year when jobs are won and lost. It’s here where teams decide if they should keep a veteran with a bigger contract over a younger player who makes less.

For example, last summer, veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was demoted to the third team and eventually released.

This year, the Patriots’ roster looks vastly different. The team hopes they’ve brought in veterans to change the culture and the talent level. There are also high hopes for this year’s rookie class.

Here’s a look at the five players facing the most pressure in this year’s training camp:

Drake Maye, quarterback

Do you want real pressure? The hope of the Patriots franchise rests on the right arm and talents of Maye. The 22-year-old was the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL last season. At times, he showed game-changing ability. Maye has a rare blend of size, athleticism, and arm strength. If he develops into a bona fide top-10 quarterback, life becomes much easier for the Patriots.

This spring, the results were mixed. Maye threw four interceptions in the first open practice. He completed 53% of his passes in the second. The quarterback showed improvement in the next three practices. Maye needs to cut down on his turnovers. We’ll see if he can make a big Year 2 jump under Josh McDaniels. If he doesn’t, the outlook for this team becomes much different.

Cole Strange, guard

There was a point where Strange was viewed as the Patriots long-term answer at left guard. Although he was over-drafted by Bill Belichick, Strange started every game played in his first two seasons. A serious knee injury, however, changed a lot for this offensive lineman.

Last year, the Patriots attempted to move Strange to center. This year, he’s back to left guard. That spot will have an open competition this summer and Strange is the leader heading into training camp. Heading into a contract year, he has a chance to get his career back on track.

Javon Baker, wide receiver

Baker made headlines last spring in a wild post-draft press conference when he said, “Bring your popcorn. I make people in wheelchairs stand up.” The rookie receiver didn’t live up to self-set expectations, catching one pass for 12 yards. Now, he enters training camp on the roster bubble.

In the spring, he was behind DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, and undrafted rookie Efton Chism III on the depth chart. That was without Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Ja’Lynn Polk practicing. All three will also be ahead of Baker on the roster. It’s up to this young receiver to prove himself. If he doesn’t, Baker won’t be on the active roster this fall – at least in New England.

Kendrick Bourne, wide receiver

It’s clear that Josh McDaniels likes Bourne. The last time the two were together, Bourne put up the best numbers of his career, catching 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. The receiver was 26 years old that season. Now, he’ll turn 30 in August and is coming off a 305-yard season in which he recovered from a torn ACL.

Bourne has a chance to make an impact in New England this season. However, his contract also says he has a chance to be a surprise cut. Bourne has a cap hit of $7.7 million. If released, the Patriots save $6.3 million. The veteran will have to earn his roster spot in camp.

Anfernee Jennings, edge rusher

Jennings isn’t flashy, but he’s proven to be a solid player. The edge rusher does the dirty work and has been an above-average player against the run. He had 2.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits last season while posting a career-high 78 tackles. Jennings was a great fit for the Bill Belichick-style defense, which preaches setting the edge.

Is he a great fit for Mike Vrabel’s defense? That remains to be seen. Jennings was notably absent from the Patriots top defensive unit this spring. He was almost always with the backups on a separate field. The Patriots could cut Jennings and save just over $2.96 million while being hit with $2.35 million in dead money. He could also be a trade candidate this summer – if he doesn’t find a role in the new defensive system.