The Patriots are nearly two weeks into training camp, and some roster battles are crystallizing.

The fanbase has questions about the team’s wide receiver competition, potential additions to the roster, when Drake Maye will start and more.

Let’s answer them in our Patriots mailbag.

@Money22Eddie
Boutte making a case to be on the team? I know it’s a deep room

I thought this was interesting while I was observing practice on Saturday.

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The Patriots split their roster onto two fields. On the right field were the starters and second-teamers. Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye were the quarterbacks, and they were going against the top defense. On the left field were the third-stringers and scout team with Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton at quarterback.

These wide receivers were on the right field with Brissett and Maye: Jalen Reagor, Ja’Lynn Polk, DeMario Douglas, Javon Baker and K.J. Osborn. These receivers were working with Zappe and Milton on the left field: Kayshon Boutte, JuJu Smith-Schuster, JaQuae Jackson, Kawaan Baker and David Wallis.

Tyquan Thornton sat out of practice Saturday but was on the right field with Brissett and Maye in uniform but no pads watching the play calls. Kendrick Bourne is still on the PUP list after tearing his ACL last season.

But what that indicated to me is that Reagor, Polk, Douglas, Javon Baker, Osborn and Thornton are favorites to make the roster over Boutte, Smith-Schuster, Jackson, Kawaan Baker and Wallis.

Boutte has had some moments dating back to the spring but is still inconsistent. Polk, Douglas, Javon Baker and Osborn are locks. Reagor and Thornton get far more looks with top units than Boutte, Smith-Schuster or the rest of that second grouping. Reagor also brings return value.

It was most damning to see Smith-Schuster working with that group on the left field. He signed a big contract with the Patriots a year ago, had some a tough start to camp and could pretty easily find himself on the way out if things don’t improve dramatically. He’s had issues with drops and gaining separation. There have been multiple times when he’s fallen in his routes, leading to incompletions.

Boutte needs to keep improving and showing consistency to make the roster.

@BostonEmpire247
Should the Patriots be in talks for Brandon Aiyuk. Adding a WR1 could open this offense up

They could certainly use Brandon Aiyuk. The case against it would be that they could potentially sign him as a free agent next offseason without having to give up draft compensation.

The Patriots probably won’t be great this season anyway, and if they do trade for him, they’ll need to give him a massive contract. Trading for him would ensure they get him, which is no guarantee next offseason in free agency. But they’ll also need to give up a high draft pick to acquire him.

@MrEd315
What’s been eye opening, head scratching or pleasantly surprising about Pats players and camp so far?

It’s been eye-opening to see the Patriots truly having an open competition for the starting tackle jobs. I figured they would have a pretty good sense of who they wanted to play left tackle and right tackle after the spring.

But we’ve seen Chukwuma Okorafor, Caedan Wallace and Vederian Lowe at left tackle, and Okorafor, Wallace, Lowe and Calvin Anderson at right tackle early in training camp.

It’s been a little head-scratching that we have yet to see Mike Onwenu get a rep at right tackle in training camp since he was the starter at that position in the spring.

Performances from unheralded defensive backs, including Alex Austin, Azizi Hearn, Dell Pettus, Jaylinn Hawkins and Marco Wilson have been pleasantly surprising. Credit to cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino and safeties coach Brian Belichick for coaching those guys up.

@Boudreau_90
Chances are the team doesn’t look for outside help to replace baramore but if they did who should be on the radar?

They already did look outside by signing Mike Purcell. He was the best option available in free agency.

I think they could still scour the waiver wire after roster cuts for help at defensive tackle. Trysten Hill, a 2019 second-round pick by the Cowboys, also has put together some nice practices and could find himself on the roster to replace Barmore. Purcell was already getting top defensive reps late last week.

@TheShow_Critic
What player has taken Drake Maye under their wing the most?

Based on what we’ve seen in practice, Brissett.

@JasonDurkee8
When do you predict Maye becoming the starter?

It still might be too early to tell. At this point, I would predict Brissett will start Week 1, but we’re more than a month out from Week 1. I don’t anticipate the Patriots would start Brissett in Week 1 but have a plan for Maye to take over the starting job by a certain week. I also don’t necessarily foresee Brissett struggling if he does start.

So, if Brissett starts the season, then there’s at least a chance that he could start all year. He’s only on a one-year contract, so the Patriots could let him walk after the season and declare Maye as the starter in 2025.

But, as mentioned, it’s early, and no one has said Brissett will start in Week 1.

@FlintGlockwood3
Do you think Javon Baker will be WR1 at any point during the season?

He has the talent for it, but he’s still been inconsistent in practice. Douglas, Polk and Bourne seem like good bets to start Week 1, as long as Bourne is off of the PUP list. If he’s not, then Thornton, Baker or Osborn could take over that spot.

Baker makes the most wow plays at wide receiver. But he’s not doing it on a day-to-day basis.

@Thecolours
Is the joint practice with the Ealges open to the public?

Yes it is. That’s Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m.