Patriots open 2026 OTAs with Maye, absences looming

Patriots open – Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye returned to the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium for the Patriots’ first organized team activities practice of the year on Wednesday, with Christian Gonzalez and Kayshon Boutte among several notable absences and the offense an

FOXBOROUGH — By Wednesday afternoon. the 90-minute session on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium felt less like a grand reveal and more like the first step of a long. competitive road. Mike Vrabel was out there, moving through team drills and barking orders. Drake Maye was back in the rhythm of an offense that’s still learning how to fit together.

It was the Patriots’ first organized team activities practice of the year, part of a four-week voluntary program in late spring where 11-on-11, 7-on-7, and 9-on-7 drills are permitted. Media is allowed to attend one OTA session a week, including Wednesday’s practice.

But even in a non-contact. non-mandatory stretch. the details mattered—especially with last year’s first OTA practice still fresh. when Maye was knocked for four interceptions and Patriots fans collectively reacted as if the season was already slipping away. This time, the day’s story wasn’t dramatic. It was steadier.

The quarterback’s performance set the tone. Maye completed 13-of-22 throws with one interception, and the Patriots offense finished “solid” rather than flashy. Karon Prunty. a rookie cornerback. picked off a Maye pass intended for Kyle Williams—an underthrown out route that Prunty jumped on and returned for a pick-six.

“I just left the out route inside,” Maye acknowledged after practice. “You can’t do that in this league, it’s as simple as that. So. I think it’s part of throwing the out route to the field and not being outside with the football. These players in this league are going to take it the other way, so I think that’s about it.”.

Elsewhere, DeMario Douglas made sure extra work turned into visible results. With several veteran wideouts not taking part in Wednesday’s practice, Douglas hauled in four catches on five total targets. Romeo Doubs, signed as a free agent, also had catches on slant routes.

For Maye, the comfort factor mattered as much as the numbers. He said he feels far more at home in Josh McDaniels’ offense compared with last spring’s task of learning an intricate playbook.

“I think it’s naturally going to be more comfortable being in the huddle. seeing the play calls. knowing why we’re running plays. Trying to take it to the next level with the details, and details inside each play,” Maye said. “It’s fun having new guys in the offense. and me trying to teach them what I know about it. and what I think is best for us to execute. That’s what’s fun.”.

The day’s quieter tension came from who wasn’t there.

Vrabel confirmed ahead of practice that Christian Gonzalez. Carlton Davis III. Kayshon Boutte. Mack Hollins. rookie Gabe Jacas. Harold Landry III. and Kyle Dixon were not in attendance. Some of those absences could be tied to injury or personal decisions. But Gonzalez and Boutte stood out because of how the Patriots are handling their longer-term plans.

New England exercised Gonzalez’s fifth-year option for the 2027 season. keeping him with the Patriots for at least two more years and securing a $18.1 million payout during that final year under contract. Gonzalez is also eligible to sign a long-term extension that would likely make him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. Vrabel and Patriots exec Eliot Wolf have echoed the desire to sign Gonzalez for the long haul. but those talks have not produced a hefty new deal.

When asked whether Gonzalez’s contract negotiations have any bearing on his attendance during OTAs, Vrabel pointed to communication and readiness.

“Those are personal choices for players,” Vrabel said. “I would say that I value the communication that I’ve had personally. I know that our defensive coaches have had conversations with Christian. Again, I wish that they were all here so that we can coach them.

“But the ones that are here, that’s where our focus will be, and we’ll pour everything that we have into those players. I know that his professionalism and being ready to go, or whatever personal choice some guys have during the spring, I’m confident that they’ll all be ready.”

Boutte’s absence comes during a period when he has also been tied to trade rumors. His roster spot could be threatened if New England trades for A.J. Brown in the coming weeks.

Vrabel didn’t treat the situation like something brittle. He said he respects Boutte and described his work on his own over the last few weeks.

“I have a great amount of respect for Kayshon. and watching him mature and grow through the entire time that we spent together. that’s a credit to Kayshon. that’s a credit to [receivers coach] Todd Downing. ” Vrabel said. “And just the communication is, ‘Hey, how are you doing?. One, you’re working hard?’.

“And he said, ‘Yeah, I like where I’m working out at.’ ‘Okay. We’ll be here ready to coach you when you’re here.’ That’s been very positive, and I would imagine that he would pick up where he left off and grow on the season that he had last year.”

Even in the parts of practice that looked routine, the Patriots’ offseason priorities came through.

On offense. the starting five-man offensive line Vrabel’s group had on the field included left tackle Will Campbell. left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. center Jared Wilson. right guard Mike Onwenu. and right tackle Morgan Moses. But once full team drills began, backup Andrew Rupcich replaced Vera-Tucker at left guard.

Vera-Tucker, 26, has a lengthy injury history and has continued work back from a torn triceps injury, which Vrabel’s decision seemed to acknowledge by not pushing him as the offseason progressed.

The plan for 2026 first-round pick Caleb Lomu also showed up in the substitutions. Lomu slotted in for Moses at right tackle during Wednesday’s drills. Vrabel described it as a long-range development path, even though Lomu played most of his reps at left tackle during his final seasons at Utah.

“[He’s] learning the pro game, learning our system,” Vrabel said of Lomu. “Some of the things that you see in college is not that they can’t do it; it’s just that they’re not being coached to do it. And there’s a lot of different ways to coach football and what you believe. Some of the techniques are different, and I think he’s really embraced those. He’s been an unbelievably coachable player. He’s young, he’s big, he’s athletic and he’s willing to learn. He’s excited about learning.

“So, where he plays, we want to end up with the five best linemen. I think he’s going to have the ability to play both sides. I can report that he’ll be on the right today. He might get some snaps on the left. But you guys know how this goes.”

On defense, the early theme was preparation for opportunity.

New England’s defensive line is led by Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. but it remains to be seen who can step into greater roles behind them. especially with nose tackle Khyiris Tonga leaving in free agency. Vrabel said backup Cory Durden—and others further down the depth chart—are positioned to do more in 2026.

“I think he proved that,” Vrabel said of Durden stepping up. “And again, nobody was happier for Tonga than me personally, in what he was able to do for us. And that’s the beauty of professional sports. He came here, we wanted him back, he got a better offer, and that’s what he had to do. That’s what he should have done. So, I’m going to support him and his family.

“But we also are excited. Leonard Taylor [III], worked with us. Eric Gregory worked with us. These guys are proving that they want to be there. Josh Farmer is back healthy. But Cory, I think, probably coming out of last year, would be that on paper. Again, there’ll be a competition in training camp. But I think that’s a good group.”.

Durden replaced Tonga as the team’s starting nose tackle during Wednesday’s practice. Vrabel also pointed to Leonard Taylor—who previously blocked a potential game-tying field goal in the AFC title game against Denver—standing out by getting into the backfield and putting backup quarterback Tommy DeVito under duress.

Beyond Prunty’s interception, other backups made plays. Cornerback Charles Woods had a pair of pass breakups, while linebacker K.J. Britt clamped down on rookie tight end Eli Raridon and knocked down a pass from DeVito.

The tone of the day, though, was unmistakable: Vrabel stayed Vrabel.

A majority of the Patriots’ offseason storylines have circled around Vrabel and his reported years-long relationship with former The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini. During that fallout, Vrabel was absent for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to be with his family. He acknowledged on Wednesday he wouldn’t rule out missing other team events if other unexpected situations arose.

“I can only tell you I’m going to be there today,” Vrabel said. “I can’t tell you anything other than I’m going to be out there in full force. I mean that. Who knows what’s going to come up? Anything can happen.”

Still, on the practice field Wednesday, his presence looked routine in the way competitors recognize—active in team drills, then snapping into position with orders and jeers as the session moved along.

Milton Williams said there wasn’t any noticeable shift.

“Yeah, same guy,” Williams said of Vrabel. “Talking ([expletive], you know? [He’s] ready to roll. He ain’t changed one bit.”

New England Patriots Mike Vrabel Drake Maye OTAs Gillette Stadium Christian Gonzalez Kayshon Boutte DeMario Douglas Romeo Doubs Cory Durden Milton Williams Christian Barmore