7 biggest takeaways from Patriots second open OTAs practice

The New England Patriots were back on the field on Wednesday for their second open organized team activities (OTAs) practice.

There was a great deal of anticipation for this practice after the way they ended things last week.

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye threw four interceptions, including two to All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

He did manage to bounce back at the end of competitive 11-on-11s by going 7-for-8 passing.

So, what version of Maye would we get the second time around? That was the biggest question heading into the practice.

There were also still plenty of questions regarding the offensive additions to the roster and whether the defense could continue to dominate in a practice setting.

Here are the seven biggest takeaways from Wednesday's practice, starting with team attendance: Patriots attendanceThe Patriots had five players listed as absent from Wednesday's practice, while eight players were limited on the field.

Some of the bigger names missing in action included wide receiver Stefon Diggs and cornerback Carlton Davis III.Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, guard Mike Onwenu, safety Kyle Dugger and wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk were all limited for this practice.Patriots OTAs attendance Absent: Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Carlton Davis, Caedan Wallace, Austin HooperLimited: Michael Onwenu, JaLynn Polk, Kyle Dugger, Vederian Lowe, Jared Wilson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jaquelin Roy, Wilfried Pene pic.twitter.com/hjbwL8kZUn Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) May 28, 2025Drake Maye took better care of the footballBUTDrake Maye didn't throw four interceptions.

In fact, he didn't turn the ball over at all in this practice.

That alone should be considered a notable improvement.

With that said, the rhythm of the offense as a whole still isn't there yet.

It really showed up with the timing on some throws with Maye, who went 9-of-17 passing in 11-on-11s, struggling to connect with receivers.

Granted, the defense didn't make it easy on any of the quarterbacks (we'll talk about that later).

11v11sDrake Maye: 9/17Joshua Dobbs: 10/16Ben Wooldrige: 3/5- In competitive drills, Mayes day ended with a fumbled snap.

No turnovers but not all that efficient.

Patriots defense looks ahead of the offense.

Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) May 28, 2025It's clear that the offense is still a work in progress, and it's going to take time before everyone is up to speed.

Maye has new receivers, and the coaching staff is plugging in different players along the offensive front.

He's juggling the personnel changes along with coaching and playbook changes with Josh McDaniels now as the offensive coordinator.There were still a couple of plays where Maye flashed elite potential, but it's also important to give him time to grow.

This isn't a Jayden Daniels situation.

Left guard remains the biggest mystery on offenseWhat's going on at left guard?Veteran offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson got an extended look at the spot in Wednesday's practice.

I wouldn't expect that to remain the norm, but it does appear that the Patriots are trying out a multitude of different players at that position in particular.It shouldn't be a foregone conclusion that Cole Strange will win the starting job.

Layden Robinson is still a contender for that role, and rookie Jared Wilson might also find reps at guard, even if center is his traditional role.

The Patriots appear to be leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to find their best five-player combination on the offensive front.

So far, that seems to be Will Campbell, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury/Wilson and Strange.

Defensive front is coming together stronglyThe new-look defensive front for the Patriots jumps out as impressive even without pads.

That unit gave the offense fits throughout the competitive period with the combination of Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Harold Landry III and Keion White.

Sure, the offense had timing issues that need improvement, but you also have to tip your cap to the defense for containing the quarterbacks in the pocket and forcing tight throws under pressure.The Patriots defensive line of Harold Landry, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Keion White is going to be fun to watch when pads come on.

This group is already giving the Patriots offense problems Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) May 28, 2025If the Patriots' defensive front can consistently generate pressure, they are going to be a tough matchup for any offense in the league.

Good luck throwing under pressure with All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III lurking in the defensive backfield.

Rookie defensive tackle Joshua Farmer also flashed in this practice with not only his ability to push the pocket but also bat down passes.

Is Kyle Williams as good as advertised? Kyle Williams was arguably the best pure separator in the entire 2025 NFL draft class.

That aspect of his game has continued to show up in these practice settings.

His ability to consistently find space against defensive backs has been notable from the start.

He had the play of the day on Wednesday when adjusting to make a deep over-the-shoulder catch against cornerback Miles Battle.

The speed he has when getting in and out of his routes has looked exceptional.

That's something the Patriots have lacked in recent years at the wide receiver position.

Highlight of the day for the #Patriots offense was Kyle Williams beating CB Miles Battle on a go ball with a nice adjustment to catch the ball over the shoulder.Williamss separation has flashed in the two practices media has attended.

Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) May 28, 2025I don't want to go overboard with the expectations because Williams still needs to show it on the field consistently in pads.

But it's hard not to get excited about his potential when seeing him in action.

Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker continue to make playsKendrick Bourne and Javon Baker have both been viewed as potential roster bubble players ahead of the 2025 season.

Baker, a 2024 fourth-round draft pick, struggled to get on the field last season, while Bourne is an aging receiver in a room full of young talent.

With that said, Bourne is the most experienced receiver in the room when it comes to running Josh McDaniels' offense.

He knows where he's supposed to be on the field, and he can make plays accordingly.

It's important to keep in mind that Bourne's best NFL season came in the one year he spent under McDaniels in 2021.

Meanwhile, Baker continued to snag receptions after making the play of the day last week.

He made three nice grabs in practice, including one where it looked like he pushed off on the defender.

He celebrated after the catch and didn't immediately return to the huddle, which seemed to irk Mike Vrabel.

Checking in on the kickersAfter going a perfect 4-for-4 kicking last week, rookie kicker Andres Borregales came back down to Earth at this practice by going 3-of-4 in field goals.

However, John Parker Romo, who appears to be on the outside looking in, edged things out by going 4-for-4 kicking.Correcting a previous tweet...John Parker Romo was 4-for-4 today, Andres Borregales was 3-for-4.

Romo had a close kick on the far field that the team confirmed after practice was in fact good.

Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) May 28, 2025The Patriots are looking to get more consistent with the field goal kicking than they've been in recent years.

Borregales was one of the best kickers in the country last season, and there's hope that success will translate at the NFL level quickly.But it is still a two-man race, and Romo should not be overlooked.

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