FOXBORO – Three days into Patriots training camp, we’re not ready to make any grand sweeping judgments on Jerod Mayo as a head coach or the quarterback battle between Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye.

But, there has been plenty to take away from the three non-padded practices.

Here are 15 things we’ve learned.

1. Offense is behind the defense, as expected

We knew this would be the case coming in. The Patriots are running a new system with new quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive linemen. Meanwhile, the defense carried over most of its starters and core coaches in Jerod Mayo, DeMarcus Covington, Brian Belichick and Mike Pellegrino.

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“One thing I will say is, and this has been historically, the defense has always been ahead of the offense. The defense will always be ahead of the offense,” Mayo said Friday. “Now, the offense, obviously they’re still gelling together, and we have a lot of guys on defense that already know the scheme. You know, it’s harder to jump to conclusions. Are these guys going to be good? Are they bad? Like, I don’t know, and I don’t think you guys know either. I don’t even think the coaches out there know. But one thing I will say is it’s about competition and it’s about getting better each and every day, not only on the field, but also off the field.”

It’s worth noting the defense was not ahead of the offense back when Tom Brady was starting at quarterback. But it’s been five years, and in those five years, yes, the defense has been ahead of the offense.

2. QB performances are similar so far

Neither veteran Brissett nor rookie Maye is running away with the quarterback competition so far. That gives Brissett, who knows offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s system, the leg up for now.

The Patriots haven’t put the pads on yet, and there’s still plenty of time for Maye to beat out Brissett. Brissett (32-of-43, INT, 4 sacks) has been more consistent thus far. Maye (32-of-44, 2 sacks, INT) has made bigger plays with deep completions to speedster Jalen Reagor and rookie Ja’Lynn Polk.

Maye has impressed Patriots talent evaluators through three practices. One source believed the rookie is playing with confidence.

Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots throw in tandem during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

3. New drill for QBs

The Patriots are running a new drill for quarterbacks this summer, which illustrates what Van Pelt will expect out of his quarterbacks on bootlegs. Quarterback will hand off to a running back, rollout to the opposite sideline, catch a ball from a staffer and throw. It’s a way to practice handoffs and bootlegs while stealing an extra passing attempt.

4. Joe Milton comes as advertised

It took just two days for Milton to start receiving more reps than third-year pro Bailey Zappe. Milton has a huge arm but has been inconsistent, which is to be expected. He’ll be a training camp favorite with his rocket arm and signature backflip.

5. Quiet start for free-agent addition

K.J. Osborn, the former Vikings wide receiver who signed with the Patriots as a free agent this offseason, had a quiet spring and caught just two passes in the first two training camp practices. He finally emerged with four catches on four targets on Friday.

K.J. Osborn #2 of the New England Patriots stretches during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

With Kendrick Bourne still nursing a torn ACL, Osborn and Tyquan Thornton are getting plenty of run in the offense. Osborn can play all three wide receiver positions, which should be valuable in the Patriots’ offense this season. He can either start in one of those spots or be a super sub.

6. Rookie WR brings juice

Fourth-round pick Javon Baker doesn’t look particularly close to carving out a major role in the offense. He’s currently primarily repping with third- and fourth-stringers. But he brings a certain sense of urgency every time he’s around the ball. He attacks the ball when targeted and shows aggressiveness running with the ball in his hand. He’s been inconsistent dating to the spring and dealt with a fractured thumb, but if he has more plays like Friday’s, when he hauled in a 60-yard bomb from Milton, then perhaps he could start seeing more reps with Brissett and Maye.

7. Ja’Lynn Polk’s big play finally came

Quarterbacks had targeted Polk deep in the first two days of camp but failed to connect. That changed Day 3, when Maye hit Polk for a 50-yard reception over cornerback Azizi Hearn.

It was promising to see Baker and Polk make big plays on Day 3 of camp. And it was even more promising to see Milton and Maye making the throws.

Yes, it’s been a slow start for the offense, but as long as young players like Maye, Polk, Baker and Milton make progress, then training camp will be a success.

8. Young running back showing versatility

Kevin Harris, a 2022 sixth-round pick out of South Carolina, has essentially been doing a Rhamondre Stevenson impression through three days of practice. With Antonio Gibson (undisclosed) still on the non-football injury list, Harris has been backing up Stevenson and contributing as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher.

Harris has shown some burst and steady hands. He’s the favorite to earn a role as the Patriots’ No. 3 running back behind Stevenson and Gibson.

9. Post-practice pressers have been more entertaining than play on the field

The biggest fireworks of camp have come in post-practice scrums with outside linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, both of whom desire new contracts.

Judon was asked if he would play this season on his current deal, in which he’s set to earn a base salary of just $6.5 million, none of which is guaranteed.

“I mean, I’ve got to, honestly,” Judon said Wednesday. “I signed the deal, my signature on it, so I’ve got to play on it.

“Would I like to? No. Do I think that’s my value? No. But again, that’s not up to me.”

Matthew Judon #9 of the New England Patriots shouts out during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Godchaux, who signed a two-year, $20.8 million contract extension in 2022 and is set to earn a base salary of $7.15 million in 2024, has less of a case for an extension, though none of that money is guaranteed either. Godchaux said he’s leaning on his agent Drew Rosenhaus and that he just wants “some respect.”

“It’s frustrating playing out here with no guaranteed money, but I’m going to put it in Drew’s hands,” Godchaux said. “He’s going to do his best with it.”

Mayo said Friday that he has no issue with players speaking their minds.

It’s natural for any Patriots player on the final year of his contract to fight for an extension since the team has already handed them out to center David Andrews, defensive tackle Christian Barmore, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, linebacker Jahlani Tavai and safety Jabrill Peppers.

Beyond Judon and Godchaux, cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive end Deatrich Wise are also entering contract years.

10. Offensive line competition feels too open

Through three practices, we’ve seen Calvin Anderson, Vederian Lowe and Chukwuma Okorafor start team drills at right tackle, and Okorafor and rookie Caedan Wallace start at left tackle. That has left Sidy Sow at left guard, David Andrews at center and Mike Onwenu at right guard.

It would be one thing to move Onwenu from right tackle to right guard if the Patriots had confidence in players to start at both tackle spots. That the Patriots are seemingly holding an open competition for both of their starting tackle spots doesn’t exactly exude confidence in the overall offensive line picture.

Mayo has said the best five players will play. They’re giving everyone a shot. And if only one out of Anderson, Lowe, Okorafor and Wallace proves to be among the best five, then Onwenu could always move back to right tackle, which would open up a starting competition at guard to be determined between Nick Leverett and Atonio Mafi, among others.

If Onwenu starts the season at guard, then it’s possible that he’s just keeping the spot warm until Cole Strange returns from a knee injury. Strange’s return would seemingly push Sow to right guard, Onwenu to right tackle and one of the starting tackles out.

11. 2024 draft pick has been missed

You didn’t expect to read an entire section on 2024 fourth-round pick Jake Andrews, did you? He’s currently on the PUP list and is being missed on the practice field as a dependable backup behind David Andrews. Leverett and Mafi have been taking top backup center reps behind Andrews, and both have had issues on snaps.

12. Early ailments

Beyond Jake Andrews, Gibson, Bourne, Strange and linebacker Sione Takitaki, all of whom are on active injured lists, Barmore, wide receiver DeMario Douglas, safety Marte Mapu and cornerback Shaun Wade have been limited early in training camp.

DeMario Douglas #3 of the New England Patriots during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

That the Patriots have two open spots on their roster shows the team isn’t overly concerned about depth early in camp.

13. Young cornerback a player to watch

We’ve told you to keep an eye on Alex Austin, who was signed midway through the 2023 season after being released from the Texans’ practice squad. Well, keep staring. Christian Gonzalez will start at one cornerback spot. Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones have both received reps outside and in the slot. And Austin has been receiving a significant amount of reps in the top defense. The team likes him for good reason. He’s big, fast and has flashed ball skills.

14. A kicker emerges early

The Patriots let their kickers, Chad Ryland and Joey Slye, take center stage at the end of Friday’s practice. Ryland hit all four his attempts, while Slye was 3-of-4. Give the edge to Ryland, the 2023 fourth-round pick, for now.

15. New approach at practice

With Bill Belichick as head coach, special teams would regularly interrupt full-team drills. That has not been the case through three days of camp, when the only period that interrupts 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s is ball-security drills.

Mayo has put less emphasis on special teams early in training camp. The Patriots also have fewer core special-teams players on their roster this season.