The Patriots kicked off the final phase of their offseason program Tuesday with the first of three mandatory minicamp practices.
Generally speaking, mandatory minicamp is not much different from OTAs. There are no pads, no live contact, and, for the most part, practices are conducted at a lower tempo with an emphasis on teaching and installation.
The one major difference is that minicamp is mandatory. While the previous portions of the team’s offseason program were voluntary, players must attend minicamp or face fines.
Two key players who were absent during OTAs, Christian Gonzalez and Kayshon Boutte, returned to the practice field on Tuesday, though one did not do much practicing.
Gonzalez, who is eligible for a contract extension for the first time this offseason, participated in stretches, individual drills, and walkthroughs. During team periods, however, he watched from the back of the end zone with his helmet off.
“I’ve got obligations. I’m here,” Gonzalez said after the session.
The 23-year-old is slated to earn a base salary of roughly $2.26 million this season. When asked whether he would play on his current contract, the 2025 Pro Bowler said he is focused on the present rather than the future.
“We’ve got a long time to the season. We’re still pretty early in the offseason,” he said. “I’m focused on being here for the team, doing my role and what I’m here for this week, and focusing on that.”
The 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft made it clear, though, that he would like to remain a Patriot.
“I hope we get something done,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve said this multiple times, I’ve been drafted here; I want to be rewarded as a Patriot. I love this city. So, of course, I want to be here.”
Boutte, who also missed voluntary workouts amid uncertainty about his future following the trade for A.J. Brown and the signing of Romeo Doubs, was much more active. With his name surfacing in trade rumors as the 24-year-old enters the final year of his rookie contract, the receiver was a full participant throughout practice.
“I wouldn’t mind being here. I do want to be here, obviously,” Boutte said. “I mean, at the end of the day, I do want to be here. So whether that’s X, Z, F, like just whatever I got to do, that’s best for me. Whether it’s learning the playbook more, moving around — There’s only one football. There are five of us, you know? But that’s football.”
Boutte, who led the team with 168 receiving yards last postseason, caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. He is not concerned about the team’s new additions or the increasingly crowded receiver room.
“It’s been getting crowded every year,” he said. “We find ourselves in the same position at the beginning of every season, every offseason. But I mean, at the end of the day, you’ve still got to come to training camp and fight. No spot is given, no matter who it is. You’ve still got to come out and perform.”
Aside from Harold Landry, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery, and Morgan Moses, who was present at OTAs before leaving last week’s session early, second-round pick Gabe Jacas was the only other player absent.
Head coach Mike Vrabel noted that Jacas, the team’s only unsigned draft pick, recently underwent a medical procedure.
“He just had to have a procedure, and he is not under contract,” Vrabel said, “So, we are excited about Gabe, the person that he is, the play style, his production in college, and all that. So, when that gets resolved, we will have him in here, and we will coach him, and I am sure we will find a way for him to help our football team.”
The Patriots are scheduled to hold two more minicamp practices on Wednesday and Thursday before breaking for six weeks ahead of training camp.