Which New England Patriots Have Most to Lose in Training Camp?

Some of the players that played key roles in the New England Patriots' run to the Super Bowl face situations where their playing time could be in jeopardy for 2012.

Such is the case when a Super Bowl team makes so many drastic improvements, as the Patriots have this offseason.

But with so many additions, which players have the most to lose headed into camp?

Deion Branch

Deion Branch started 15 games for the Patriots in 2011 and was the team's fourth-leading receiver with 51 receptions for 702 yards and five touchdowns. When the Patriots brought in free-agent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, they all but bid adieu to Branch's days as one of the top targets in the Patriots offense. 

At this point, Branch is entrenched in a battle for the fourth or fifth spot at wide receiver, with Lloyd, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney all nearly locks for the roster.

Branch has been one of the most reliable targets for Tom Brady over the course of his career, so it would come as a surprise if he were let go, but with so much talent added at wide receiver, it should be expected that he'll see the field much less than before.

Brandon Spikes or Rob Ninkovich

The Patriots added linebacker Dont'a Hightower in the draft to a group that was already very deep, and there are only so many spots on the field at linebacker. Someone will have to lose playing time.

Make no mistake, I think Brandon Spikes should be a big part of the Patriots' defensive game plan no matter what that game plan is. Same goes for Rob Ninkovich, who was both a defensive end and an outside linebacker at different points last year, depending on the scheme the Patriots were running.

It could also depend on what role the Patriots see Hightower playing more effectively. Will he stay inside to shoot gaps and defend the run? Will the Patriots use him with his hand on the ground as a nickel pass-rusher? Will they ask him to drop into coverage? It will likely be a mix, but whichever roles Hightower is strongest in could bode well or poorly for Ninkovich and Spikes one way or the other.

James Ihedigbo

Ihedigbo's status as a starter was predicated on multiple injuries at safety as well as sub-par performance from several of New England's defensive backs. He stepped right up and started 12 games, but the Patriots aggressively addressed their need for safeties.

With the additions of Steve Gregory and Tavon Wilson alongside incumbent starter Patrick Chung, the Patriots are looking to fill one or possibly two more roster spots at safety.

This leaves Ihedigbo embroiled in a battle for playing time a year after playing more snaps than almost any other defensive back on the Patriots roster.

Sebastian Vollmer

The Patriots could be facing quite a bit of flux on the offensive line, at least to start the 2012 season. With the recent report that Sebastian Vollmer will begin training camp on the active PUP list, the Patriots will be faced with the dilemma of filling his spot once again.

Last year, that role was filled by first-round pick Nate Solder, but with Solder now sliding over to the left side to fill in for the retired Matt Light, the Patriots could look to 2011 fifth-round pick Marcus Cannon, who played some guard but will be "considered a tackle" for all intents and purposes going forward. He played fairly well in spot duty last year and could be asked to fill the void once again in 2012.

Vollmer's roster status may not be in jeopardy, but his absence gives Cannon a chance to prove himself and perhaps slide into Vollmer's spot down the line if the veteran tackle isn't able to stay healthy.

Andre Carter

Andre Carter was the force off the edge the Patriots needed to successfully switch to the 4-3 front last year. When he went down with a quadriceps injury near the end of the season, the Patriots had to change things on the fly, switching back to a 3-4 front after having utilized primarily 4-3 looks all year.

There are a lot of questions that factor into Carter's status on the roster. Will the Patriots run a 3-4 or a 4-3 next year? What do they think of their rookie defensive ends, Chandler Jones and Jake Bequette? Is Carter the same player he was last year when he logged 10 sacks, or has his injury caused him to lose some of that burst?

Some of those questions may give answers to why the Patriots haven't re-signed him yet. Even if Carter is brought back, he'll have to prove he still has the tools that set him apart last year; with so much promising youth on the roster, his competition will be stiff in reclaiming his starting job.