FOXBORO, Mass. — It’s difficult to predict what the New England Patriots’ starting offense will look like in 2023, and Wednesday’s open OTAs session didn’t provide a ton of clarity.

First, it didn’t help that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was absent from the session. But the Patriots were also mixing five pass-catchers into what will essentially be three slots.

We have a pretty good idea that Smith-Schuster, New England’s prized free-agent addition — will be a starter. We also know that — barring something unforeseen — Hunter Henry will likely receive the bulk of snaps at tight end. New England will also have a running back on the field for most snaps. So, that leaves two more spots for skill-position players with wide receivers DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton and tight end/big slot receiver Mike Gesicki vying for snaps.

Quarterback Mac Jones is encouraged by what he’s seen from Gesicki — who signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract in free agency this offseason with incentives that can double the deal — and it certainly sounds like New England will be open to running two tight end sets under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

“Throughout the years in the league so far, this is my third year, but watching him go against some guys as an opponent is really cool to see,” Jones said Wednesday after practive. “He would make some plays one-on-one, and down the field, and all that stuff. You can definitely see that translate to here. I think Hunter [Henry] and him, and everybody else in the tight end room, Scotty [Washington], Matt Sokol, everybody, they’re doing a good job. I think the biggest thing is, like you said, molding together.

“Those two are going to work as a pair. It might be different guys at times, but Mike definitely has playmaking ability. He’s a smart football player, and I’m just excited to work with him.”

If Henry and Gesicki share the field often, then that would mean less playing time for one of the wide receivers. And instead of three spots for Smith-Schuster, Parker, Bourne and Thornton, it would only mean two.

Gesicki, Bourne and Parker all have salary cap hits between $4.5 and $6.9 million this season. It's worth noting that New England could free up significant cap space if Bourne or Parker were released.

Salary cap savings if cut:

Parker: $6,206,250
Bourne: $5,455,882

Bourne played just 41.9 percent of offensive snaps last season and saw his production dip from 55 catches for 800 yards with five touchdowns in 2021 under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to 35 catches for 434 yards with one touchdown in 2022 with Matt Patricia calling plays. Parker played 51.8 percent of snaps and caught 31 passes for 539 yards with three touchdowns in his first season with the Patriots.

Player	Snap percentage
TE Hunter Henry	75.76%
WR Jakobi Meyers	65.59%
WR DeVante Parker	51.81%
WR Tyquan Thornton	50.10%
WR Nelson Agholor	45.25%
WR Kendrick Bourne	41.92%
TE Jonnu Smith	40.21%
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey	12.17%
TE Matt Sokol	2.28%
TE Scotty Washington	2.09%
WR Lynn Bowden	1.33%
WR Raleigh Webb	.10%

We’ll see what O’Brien has in store for this group.

The Patriots also brought in veteran tight end Anthony Firkser to compete with Washington and Sokol for a potential third spot on the roster. Firkser, like Gesicki, is a smaller tight end who has spent most of his NFL career playing more out wide and in the slot than inline as a traditional tight end.

Thornton was a major standout in practice Wednesday. But he’s also a thinner-framed wideout. So, it’s worth seeing if his practice production continues in training camp and the preseason when pads come on.

Featured image via Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports