FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots open training camp Wednesday, July 27, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before starting the season at the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 11. The Patriots finished the 2021 regular season 10-7 before getting blown out in a wild-card-round loss to the Buffalo Bills in one of their more humbling losses in recent history.
After going on a free-agent spending spree in 2021, the team mostly stayed the course this offseason. Trading for receiver DeVante Parker from the Dolphins was arguably the most notable acquisition. There are significant questions about the offensive coaching staff after coordinator Josh McDaniels departed to become Las Vegas Raiders head coach, including how that might affect the development of promising second-year quarterback Mac Jones.
Owner Robert Kraft has pointed out how the Patriots hadn't drafted well for a stretch prior to 2021, and that he believes better results in that area will be critical. Thus, the team is counting on some young players to emerge. Here is a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Mac Jones, Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zappe
Of Jones and the team's offensive system, Bill Belichick said: "We'll do everything we can to make it as good for him as we can. He's our quarterback." Hoyer is the veteran sounding board, while selecting Zappe in the fourth round adds a developmental signal-caller to the pipeline.
