As New England Patriots fans keep refreshing Twitter for updates on DeAndre Hopkins’ free-agent visit, let’s spend some time talking about players who are actually currently on the 90-man roster.

The Patriots held three organized team activities practices and two minicamp sessions open to the media. Non-padded practices certainly don’t tell a full story, but we did learn a lot about New England’s 2023 squad over the last few weeks.

Here’s an overview as the Patriots break for five weeks before training camp.

THERE’S NOT MUCH OF A QB COMPETITION

Yes, Bailey Zappe took some reps with starters on Tuesday, but that very easily could have been preparing for an emergency situation. The simple fact is that Mac Jones looked much better than the second-year pro through five practices. He looked more comfortable, confident and precise than his backup and third-stringer Trace McSorely.

Zappy would need to make some pretty major strides to make this an actual battle in training camp and the preseason.

MALIK CUNNINGHAM IS A WIDE RECEIVER

Cunningham told reporters that while yes he’s still sometimes taking reps at quarterback during and after practice, he’s meeting with wide receivers and committed to a position change. He has the athleticism and route running down. He still needs to work on making catches when there are defenders in the area.

RUNNING BACK IS SHALLOW

The Patriots have just five running backs on their roster, and one of those, Ty Montgomery, will likely spend some time at wide receiver, as well. We included just three running backs in our latest 53-man roster projection if only because Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor could probably be slipped onto the practice squad to provide depth.

The James Robinson signing didn’t work out. There are still some experienced, talented running backs available in free agency — Sony Michel is one — so the Patriots don’t need to panic or anything, but it would be smart to have some better depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson than Montgomery, Harris, Taylor and Pierre Strong.

WIDE RECEIVER IS TOP HEAVY

Citing the 53-man roster projection again, we kept just four official wide receivers: JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton. But Cunningham Montgomery, tight end/big receiver Mike Gesicki and cornerback/offensive playmaker Marcus Jones also made the cut.

Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are intriguing young talents as 2023 sixth-round picks. They didn’t stand out enough quite yet. Tre Nixon, Ed Lee, Raleigh Webb and Cunningham are farther behind.

THIS CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE A TWO-TIGHT END OFFENSE

But that could change. The Patriots were mostly running an offense that included Gesicki and Hunter Henry. But keep in mind that Thornton and Smith-Schuster were both out during minicamp. Parker and Thornton also missed time this spring.

I’d argue that Gesicki is probably still a top-five pass catcher on this team and that the best personnel grouping would include him, Henry, Stevenson, Smith-Schuster and one other wide receiver. If Hopkins is signed, then that shakes things up a bit.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING IN UNHERALDED PASS-CATCHER

Head coach Bill Belichick talked at length when asked about tight end/big receiver Scotty Washington. Retired Patriots safety Devin McCourty then noted on Twitter that “Scotty can play.”

Washington spent extra time with quarterbacks, Henry and Gesicki during punting drills.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE COULD BE AN ISSUE

Nothing has really changed since free agency except that Trent Brown was a no-show for OTAs, was late to minicamp and then spent his only spring session of the offseason working on conditioning. We’ll have a better sense of what the offensive line looks like in training camp when Brown is back in the fold and Mike Onwenu could be healthy. For now, Calvin Anderson, Riley Reiff and Conor McDermott were the top tackles with Sidy Sow also working at the position.

It might be worth seeing if the Cincinnati Bengals are willing to trade Jonah WIlliams.

BACKUP GUARD IS UNSETTLED

With Onwenu out, there were a lot of right guards playing next to starting center David Andrews including James Ferentz, Bill Murray, Atonio Mafi and Jake Andrews. If New England had a starting-caliber guard in their back pocket, then Onwenu potentially could move to right tackle. We’ll find out in training camp if someone like Murray, Mafi or Andrews are viewed that way.

LAWRENCE GUY IS IN LIMBO

It would have been impossible to predict Guy being a contract holdout heading into minicamp. At 33 years old, if anything, he looked more like a surprise cut. Guy is a very good player. He’s valuable to the Patriots’ defense. But aging defensive tackles, unfortunately, aren’t worth much more than the $3.25 million he could earn this season.

JOURDAN HEILIG’S PLAYER COMP

When former Patriots linebacker Brandon King was an undrafted rookie out of Auburn, it was notable to see him working with special teams coaches during offensive, defensive and full-team drills and gave an indication that he could wind up earning a surprise roster spot. Heilig was doing the same thing this spring. He’ll need to really excel as a special-teamer to make the roster, but New England has kept similar players around in the past.

MARTE MAPU HAS EARNED HIS TEAMMATES’ RESPECT

Mapu’s defensive teammates, including Ja’Whaun Bentley, Adrian Phillips, Jabrill Peppers and Matthew Judon, conducted the hype train for Mapu this spring. He played linebacker and safety and was praised for his smarts, athleticism and versatility. Mapu was a third-round pick but could wind up playing a bigger role than second-rounder Keion White in Year 1.

The biggest impediment to Mapu’s playing time is the competition he has at safety/linebacker in Bentley, Peppers, Phillips, Kyle Dugger, Jalen Mills, Joshuah Bledsoe, Jahlani Tavai and Mack Wilson. He could get a solid chunk of time simply replacing snaps earned by Wilson and Raekwon McMillan last season.

NO WASTED TIME WITH CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ

The Patriots thrust Gonzalez into a top cornerback role right away. New England needs his size and speed in a group that includes smaller and slimmer cornerbacks like Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones and Myles Bryant.

JONATHAN JONES’ ROLE IS UNDEFINED

The Patriots’ top veteran defensive back, Jonathan Jones, was moving around the defense this spring, taking snaps at cornerback, safety and in the slot. His ability to move and adapt will be valuable as New England puts together it’s best group of four, five or six defensive backs.

NO SET STARTING SECONDARY

Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, Bryant, Bledsoe, Peppers, Phillips, Dugger, Mapu and Mills all looked like starters at certain points this spring. It’s entirely possible that all of those players will see substantial snaps this season. But it’s tough to predict what a starting group of five or six players will actually look like right now.

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