The Patriots are eight practices into training camp this summer, giving observers a feel for head coach Mike Vrabel and company's plans for the upcoming season.

Although it remains to be seen how it'll all translate in the regular season, there's genuine optimism stemming from Vrabel and his staff, second-year QB Drake Maye and promising roster additions whose roles are now more clearly defined. More specifically, the Pats rookie class could have multiple contributors, veteran additions could supplement the defense and the Maye-McDaniels pairing is off to a good start with the Pats starting quarterback appearing comfortable in the offense.

After taking in all eight practices to date, here are 45 thoughts on the Patriots through the first week and a half of training camp.

Quarterbacks

- Patriots QB Drake Maye is acclimating well to OC Josh McDaniels's offense. It's encouraging that Maye's rhythm in structure is already sharp, with the ball seemingly coming out on time. Plus, Maye has yet to throw an interception in practice this summer, and his off-script playmaking/mobility should be factors this season. The second-year quarterback made standout throws to receivers DeMario Douglas (off-platform dime), Stefon Diggs (crosser dime) and rookie Kyle Williams (go ball dime) over the last week. You can nitpick a few "sprays" with Maye here and there, but there's an overwhelming sense of optimism while watching the quarterback work at practice.

- QB Joshua Dobbs has had some nice moments of aggressiveness and ball placement. Dobbs has the right mindset in practice, with a grip-it and rip-it approach. That's what you want from a 30-year-old backup who's here to support Maye.

Running Backs

- From this perspective, the only question about second-round RB TreVeyon Henderson is how will the Patriots manage his workload to keep the speed-back fresh in year one? Henderson's burst is different. He runs through the defense with impressive acceleration, turns the corner on outside runs with ease and has the potential to be a dynamic receiver. Henderson can beat linebackers on vertical routes, wiggle free on underneath routes and should be a factor in the screen game. On Wednesday, we also saw his pass protection skills flash with an eye-popping chip block. Again, it's not about ability: it's about managing his workload.

- Lead-back Rhamondre Stevenson still looks like the Patriots best early-down option for downhill runs between the tackles. He has made some smooth lateral cuts off duo blocks to find open entry points and picked up a blitz nicely to keep Maye clean on a completion to Diggs this week. Henderson and Stevenson should form a solid one-two punch.

- Undrafted rookie Lan Larison caught his first pass of the summer from Maye in Wednesday's session and followed that up with more reps in Thursday's walkthrough (Gibson absent). Larison was a spring standout and has flashed some speed to the edge and receiving ability. We'll see if Larison starts getting more opportunities with other frontline players.

- Antonio Gibson has been paired with Henderson on kickoff returns and remains involved on offense. Gibson's ability to return kickoffs, play on passing downs and contribute as a spell-back increases his overall value.

Wide Receivers

- It's hard not to get excited about how good WR Stefon Diggs looks in practice. Diggs is a cut above at the receiver position due to his separation quickness, efficient movements and ability to win at the catch point with magnet hands. Diggs is the best Pats receiver I've seen in camp since Julian Edelman's prime. He's consistently winning on second-level targets and in the red zone. He's going to catch a lot of passes.

- WR DeMario Douglas got off to a terrific start with targets galore from Maye. Douglas's separation quickness has always stood out, but his ability to snare passes outside his frame has impressed me the most, along with taking off deep while working off-script with Maye for a 50-plus yard touchdown last weekend. Douglas is excelling in the slot role in McDaniels's offense, both physically and mentally.

- The 'X' receiver spot is a more interesting conversation. Pop is a pure slot whose snaps could primarily come in three-receiver sets, with Diggs (Z) and an 'X' receiver on the field in two-receiver base personnel. WR Kayshon Boutte is the current leader to play that outside role, with Maye connecting with Boutte in the back of the end zone for a nice touchdown in low-red zone work on Tuesday. Boutte has taken most of the reps with Diggs and Douglas to start camp, but vet WR Mack Hollins was activated off the PUP list for Thursday's walkthrough and was involved heavily.

- Third-round WR Kyle Williams has stacked defenders twice on go balls for touchdowns in padded practices, one from the high red zone and another ~40-yard bomb from Maye. Williams's speed and release to separate over the top give him clear advantages on the outside, and he has also flashed some catch-and-run juice on underneath targets. There are encouraging signs that Williams can be a first-year contributor.

- WR Javon Baker has had as many highlight-reel catches in camp as any Pats receiver. He blew past the safety level to catch a deep bomb from Maye in 7-on-7s and climbed the ladder to high-point a red-zone fade in full team drills over the last week. Baker's build-up speed to pull away from defenders on vertical routes is legit. The name of the game for Baker is consistency. The high-end flashes are there.

- Second-year WR Ja'Lynn Polk is back to being a full participant after missing the first handful of practices. He caught a touchdown in his first practice of the summer on a well-executed play-action scheme on the goal line. It's hard to gauge where he's at based on only a few practices.

- WR Kendrick Bourne still makes catches on in-breakers and works the back of the end zone well in the red zone. Bourne's future will likely depend on how the Pats prioritize development for their younger receivers.

- Undrafted rookie WR Efton Chism hasn't necessarily climbed the depth chart yet, but he has looked the part against the players he's facing, especially in 7-on-7 work. Chism also settled nicely in a short zone to make himself available for Dobbs, quickly reading out a post-snap coverage rotation. We'll see if Chism starts pushing for time with Maye.

Tight End/Fullbacks

- As expected, there's no debate about the top two tight ends for the Patriots, with Hunter Henry heavily involved. Austin Hooper came off the PUP list on Tuesday and instantly saw snaps with other frontline players, with Hooper catching a nice back-shoulder seam for a chunk gain on Wednesday.

- TE Jack Westover got the first crack at reps in Hooper's place while the veteran tight end was on the PUP list, with Gee Scott Jr. and Jaheim Bell working behind him. Scott has decent ball skills, while Bell caught a shallow crosser off a play-action pass from Dobbs, where he flashed some juice after the catch, which you'd like to see more of moving forward. For now, the TE3 spot is still an open competition.

- The Patriots placed undrafted rookie FB Brock Lampe on injured reserve earlier this week, ending his season. Lampe was involved in the Pats two-back groupings, so one would expect New England to shop for a fullback replacement. It's hard to envision the McDaniels offense without a true fullback on the roster.

Offensive Line

- My big-picture takeaway on the offensive line: the unit seems improved in the run game while pass protection remains a work in progress. They should have an athletic left side and a people-moving right side. As long as they eliminate mental errors in pass protection, this group should be better than last year. It's massive that first-rounder Will Campbell and third-rounder Jared Wilson appear to be on the starter track. Drafting two starters on the O-Line in one draft would be a huge win for this regime.

- LT Will Campbell's run-blocking reps are a pleasure to watch. Campbell has excellent feet, balance, grip strength and finishing ability to be a true mauler in the run game. He's lightning quick up to the second level, caves in the defensive line on his down blocks and can execute frontside reach blocks – it's really great stuff. That said, the pass protection element is a work in progress, which we knew, especially when he's tested by speed. Overall, Campbell is on his way to being a solid rookie starter at left tackle. Who will be his backup at LT? That's an unknown.

- Third-round G/C Jared Wilson's rapid ascension is huge for the Patriots offensive line. We already knew Campbell would start, but drafting two starters? That would be a home run. Wilson is a terrific athlete with excellent initial movement skills to reach landmarks and generate power. He blocks with a sturdy base, quick and strong hands, and recovers well with his feet while refitting his hands quickly. On Wednesday, Wilson might've taken over at left guard for good.

- Free-agent addition Morgan Moses has been in-and-out of practice as he eases into his 12th NFL season. Moses can move the line of scrimmage, forming a formidable power duo with RG Mike Onwenu. His edge gets tested at times by speed, though, and his availability for what's hopefully 17-plus games will be something that bears watching for this team. He's the top right tackle when available without question.

- RG Mike Onwenu's had a quiet start to camp in a good way. He's settled in at right guard, his double teams with Moses are a fun watch and there aren't many moments where Onwenu stands out for bad reasons. Quiet is good for an offensive lineman.

- C Garrett Bradbury has experience and athleticism, but he missed Wednesday's practice after leaving Tuesday's session early. We know who Bradbury is at this point in his career, and if the Pats are more comfortable with a rookie left side than with Wilson at center, it feels like a given that Bradbury will be the starting center.

- G/C Cole Strange worked with the top unit at left guard until he repped at center behind Ben Brown later in the week. It seems notable that Wilson has been at left guard for a few practices now, while Brown got the first crack at center without Bradbury. Brown's size and experience at center could also make him a useful backup at the pivot.

- Second-year OL Caedan Wallace has exclusively worked at guard this summer, primarily at left guard. Wallace's girthy build and good raw power gave guard vibes at Penn State, so it's not surprising that this coaching staff has moved him inside. Wallace is being given a chance to compete at left guard, but as the summer wears on, it'll be interesting to see if they try him out on the right side to see if he has swing/backup value.

- OT Demontrey Jacobs has been the second right tackle behind Moses. It's worth noting that Wallace has moved inside, and OT Vederian Lowe remains on the PUP list, but it's been Jacobs's opportunity. From this perspective, it's been a mixed bag for Jacobs, but to his credit, there have been some signs of improvement from last season. Seventh-rounder Marcus Bryant has been backing up Campbell at left tackle without Lowe.

- G Tyrese Robinson hasn't looked out of place. Robinson has solid reps at both guard spots under his belt, including a decisive win over Keion White in 1-on-1s.

- Recent draft picks Sidy Sow and Layden Robinson are mostly repping at right guard, which is interesting given that left guard is an open competition. Sow had a standout 1-on-1 rep where he put the rusher on the ground. Overall, it's unclear where these two fit into the coaching staff's plan.

Defensive Line

- DT Milton Williams' pass-rush ability has been as advertised. He's a speed-to-power rusher who dents pockets and feasts when the lights are brighter, so it's not surprising that he's not an overly flashy practice player. The run defense remains a question mark as his snaps increase.

- DT Christian Barmore is on a pre-determined plan after missing most of last season due to blood clots. When he's out there, Barmore is wrecking drills. He looks to be back to full strength and maybe even a step quicker at his lighter weight.

- DT Jeremiah Pharms has been the next guy up when Barmore isn't participating in team drills. Pharms is a wide body who plays with good leverage and snap quickness. He projects as a rotational inside rusher.

-NT Khyiris Tonga's bull rush is better than expected, and he's the one space-eater on the roster. He'll be a key piece to stopping the run with the Pats front seven getting smaller and faster. DTs Jaquelin Roy and Javaree Ritzie are my current favorites to land roster spots as depth. Roy can eat space as a backup nose tackle, so maybe that's his role.

Edge Rushers

- Free-agent addition K'Lavon Chaisson might be the best practice player on the Patriots through eight practices. Chaisson's go-to cross-chop, inside counters and speed off the edge have given the Pats tackles trouble. He has also made more plays against the run than expected. Chaisson could be earning more playing time. He's a former first-round pick in a good scheme for his skill set, so maybe it's clicking for Chaisson.

- Hybrid DE Keion White has mostly rushed over the tackles in team drills, with constant back-and-forth battles vs. Campbell. However, he took some reps rushing on the inside during 1-on-1s. White developing a bull rush as an outside rusher could be a focus under this staff, while he still projects as a chess piece who can rush from several different alignments.

- Veteran Harold Landry should be a steady addition for a defense that wants to be aggressive, and he could be in line to be a captain, showing up roughly 30 minutes before practice as one of the first players on the field daily. Landry's stout run defense on the edge will be an important puzzle piece so others can fire into the backfield to hunt splash plays.

- Harvard product Truman Jones started flashing toward the end of the week with two wins in one-on-one reps, including a nasty spin move on Trey Jacobs, and followed that up with some noticeable plays in full team drills. Jones then repped in Thursday's walkthrough opposite Anfernee Jennings, a sign he could get more opportunities moving forward.

- Rookies Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder have each had flashes in 1-on-1s, with Swinson getting on the board with a clean win over Campbell, his college teammate, on Wednesday. I want to watch Ponder more often. I've had him down for three wins in 1-on-1s.

Linebackers

- Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss project as the Patriots starting inside linebacker duo unless Jahlani Tavai makes a push once he returns from injury. Spillane was dubbed "The Commander" by teammates and is another free-agent addition in line to be a captain while also wearing the green dot as the defensive signal-caller.

-LB Jack Gibbens introduced himself to RB Lan Larison with a huge stick on a blown-up screen. Gibbens has some physicality to his game and is familiar with the Vrabel defense. He should have a role as a depth linebacker and core special-teamer.

- The LB Marte Mapu experiment is on. Mapu made a run stuff in the first padded practice that caught the eye. I'm interested in getting a closer look at Mapu playing linebacker in the preseason. Cam Riley is another depth option who has flashed a few times going back to the spring.

Cornerbacks

- With top corners Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis missing practices, we've gotten a chance to see Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial and first-year CB D.J. James against the Pats top receivers. Austin is in a good spot to earn a roster spot as a rotational boundary corner. He was the first guy up opposite Gonzo when Davis began missing practice time.

- CB Marcellas Dial might be best suited to be a big nickel or even safety, where he can put his play speed and tackling that translates on special teams to better use. Dial could also have a role covering tight ends. He looks more natural playing inside. Although he's repping behind top slot CB Marcus Jones, the Pats have spoken about their desire to have a bigger body-type as an option in the slot – Dial could be that guy.

- First-year CB D.J. James deserves credit for making the most of his opportunities. He has gotten his hands on multiple passes and has earned more reps. James is a classic camp "riser," which is worth noting.

Safety

- The Patriots are trying to find the right mix at safety, with a competition between Marcus Epps, Jaylin Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson to play alongside Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers. It's still too early to predict who that third safety will be, but Hawkins is an early favorite, while one would expect Woodson to get every chance to win the job.

- As he does every summer, special teams ace Brenden Schooler is getting reps at safety. It'll be interesting to see if this coaching staff keeps the "Longhorn" package we saw last year with Schooler in the pass rush.

Special Teams

- Parker Romo might have a slight edge over sixth-round rookie Andy Borregales since the start of camp, with the preseason games holding a lot of weight in the kicker competition. It feels like it's Borregale's job to lose as a sixth-round pick, but it's too close to call at the moment.

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer