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While the attention of New England Patriots fans is understandably fixed on the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, head coach Mike Vrabel and the Pats veterans are taking their offseason conditioning efforts to another level.
Per the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Patriots are one of five NFL teams holding voluntary minicamps this week. The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders commenced their respective camps on Monday. Each of the aforementioned teams are permitted to conduct the three-day session having hired new head coaches earlier in the offseason.
Quarterback Drake Maye, receiver Stefon Diggs, cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore are among the players on New England’s roster expected to be in attendance throughout camp.
Voluntary offseason workout programs are intended to provide training, teaching and physical conditioning for players. The voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases.
The first phase of the program consists of activities including meetings, strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation. These activities take place over the course of a two-week period.
As a result of Vrabel’s hiring, New England is entitled to conduct this additional camp. Per NFL regulations, this minicamp (intended for veteran players) must be conducted prior to the NFL Draft (April 24-26), but no earlier than week three of the club’s offseason workout program and after at least one week of the two weeks of Phase One activities. Vrabel’s predecessor, Jerod Mayo, opted for a two-day voluntary camp last April after succeeding longtime Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
During the second phase, teams are able to increase their activities to on-field workouts. For the Patriots, the workouts will take place in Foxborough over three weeks. They may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk through pace. No live contact or team offense versus team defense drills are permitted during this time,
The third phase takes place over the final four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, otherwise known as OTAs. At this time, 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills are permitted without live contact. Mandatory minicamp will be conducted in June.
Full-pads practices and contact drills will arrive when the Patriots regroup for training camp in late July.
More must-reads:
- Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
- Dolphins humiliated by Lions at joint practice
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.
Pros Predict Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev – ‘That’s A Tough One’
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis will defend his belt against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, with MMA pros weighing in on the matchup. Du Plessis (22-2) has been on a tear, winning 11 straight bouts. After dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297, the South African standout defended his crown against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and then turned back Strickland again in a rematch at UFC 312. Chimaev (13-0), despite limited activity since 2023 due to injuries, has made a major impact in his few appearances. Victories over former champion Kamaru Usman and elite contender Robert Whittaker have kept his hype alive. Here is how MMA insiders saw the fight playing out. Predictions “That one is tough. I’m going with Khamzat Chimaev. He seemed like a future champ for a long time, and he finally becomes the champ here,” (Diego Ferreira, UFC lightweight) “I think DDP gets it done. I think he survives the first two rounds and then takes over,” — (Drakkar Klose, UFC lightweight) “I’m going with Dricus Du Plessis. He’s too big a guy and has the gas tank to extend this fight,” (Mario Bautista, UFC bantamweight) “I think Khamzat needs to get DDP out in the first or second round to win. Dricus is a tough out for anyone, and I do think Dricus can survive and then take over and even maybe finish Chimaev late,” (Marcus McGhee, UFC bantamweight) “That’s a tough one. If it goes past a couple of rounds, DDP. I don’t think Chimaev has the gas tank to go all five rounds, but I think DDP survives and defends his belt,” (Davey Grant, UFC bantamweight) “Khamzat by submission. He’s the real deal,” (Steve Garcia, UFC featherweight) “I think Dricus has been a very tough cookie to crack, and grappling is his thing. Even if Chimaev gets him down, his bottom game is good, and I think Du Plessis keeps the belt,” (Eryk Anders, UFC middleweight) “Khamzat Chimaev. He’s not cutting weight, and I think he gets another early finish here to send a statement to the whole UFC,” (Terrance McKinney, UFC lightweight)
The Telegraph detail significant issue as Chelsea look to complete deal for Alejandro Garnacho
Chelsea and Manchester United are some distance apart on their valuation for Alejandro Garnacho according to The Telegraph. The Blues have been busy this summer and have made four really exciting signings in Jorrel Hato, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap. However, the Blues aren’t finished there, and they are still looking to add Xavi Simons and Garnacho before the end of the window. Chelsea and Man United apart on Garnacho valuation Chelsea were first linked with Garnacho back in January, and those links have continued throughout the summer, and it now very much feels like a case of when rather than if the Argentine joins. The Blues are said to have agreed personal terms with Garnacho, and the deal is believed to be done on the player side. Chelsea are now in conversations with United over a fee, but The Telegraph have reported there’s some distance in valuation between the clubs. The report states Chelsea value Garnacho at around £30m, and are using a lower bid from Bayer Leverkusen in January as their benchmark. United reportedly want £50m for Garnacho, who’s made it clear he only wants to join Chelsea this summer, and it feels like this could go right up to the final days of the window. If Garnacho does join then he will likely compete with Gittens for the left wing spot, and the Argentina international scored 11 goals and registered ten assists in 58 games in all competitions last season. Still no breakthrough in Xavi Simons deal Whilst there’s a feeling Garnacho will happen, it feels like there’s now less confidence that a deal for Simons will happen. Chelsea are still locked in negotiations with RB Leipzig, but as of yet no official offer has been made, although Simons is keen on the move. Leipzig are said to want a total package of £60m, but Chelsea reportedly want to try and agree a fee of around £50m, and there’s a worry Manchester City could try and hijack the deal.
Raiders rookie receiver opens up on stunning position change
The Las Vegas Raiders’ training camp has featured several intriguing roster developments, but one of the most unique stories belongs to rookie wide receiver Tommy Mellott. The former Montana State football standout, drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, is making the rare transition from college quarterback to NFL pass catcher. Heavy Sports’ Ethan Inman reported that Mellott discussed the move in a recent sit-down with Raiders team reporter Levi Edwards. The 23-year-old said he always suspected that his skill set might be used differently at the professional level. “I’ve had that perception that if I was going to go to the next level, I was going to be used in a unique way,” Mellott said. “I wasn’t going to be a clear-cut quarterback, but I didn’t know if I was going to be a receiver, I had no idea what it was going to be.” Mellott’s resume with the Montana State Bobcats was nothing short of prolific. A dual-threat leader nicknamed “Touchdown Tommy,” he piled up over 5,800 passing yards, 53 passing touchdowns, more than 3,500 rushing yards, and 43 rushing scores during his college career. He also led the Bobcats to the FCS championship game and collected numerous awards, including the Walter Payton Award and Big Sky Offensive MVP honors. His athletic testing at the NFL Combine — a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and a 41-inch vertical jump — showcased the explosiveness the Raiders hope to tap into. Head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly value versatility, and the former FCS quarterback could find his role as a rookie that contributes on offense and special teams. Currently listed as the third-string slot receiver and fourth-string return option, he has also been spotted taking gadget snaps in camp, a nod to his quarterback background. The position change has not shaken Mellott’s confidence. Instead, he views it as an opportunity to help the team in any way possible. “I just had an open mind and an open heart. It’s just whatever the will is of God and whatever I can do to help this team out.” The transition from Montana State football star to NFL receiver remains a work in progress, but Mellott’s adaptability and athleticism make him one of the more intriguing players in camp. If he can carve out a role, the Raiders may have uncovered a late-round gem who can inject energy into the roster and provide Carroll with another versatile building block for the team’s rebuild.
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