Early Predictions for New England Patriots' 2015 Training Camp Battles

With summer approaching, so is the heat of the training camp battles that will determine the shape of the New England Patriots roster.

With so much change across all positions, there are many openings that will be up for grabs. Veterans like cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and guard Dan Connolly are all on the outs, meaning young players at those positions will have a chance to prove themselves worthy of filling the void.

But the starting spots aren't the only hot battles to keep an eye on this summer. There are also plenty of important backup positions that will need to be filled before the offseason comes to its end. The Patriots have not always fielded a dominant starting unit, but their depth has been what's kept them among the league's elite teams.

So, who will have an opportunity to earn some playing time this offseason?

Cornerback

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Just call them "The Legion of Whom."

The Patriots secondary may not possess the star power of the likes of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner anymore, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can't field a competent pass defense. 

Between holdovers Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler, veteran additions in Robert McClain and Bradley Fletcher and rookies Darryl Roberts, Jimmy Dean, Brandon King and Eric Patterson, the Patriots have a lot of bodies in their battle but not a lot of certainty. 

Ryan and Butler have started a combined 14 regular-season games (Ryan has 13, Butler has one), but they have the right skill set to execute a zone scheme (route recognition, quickness to break on the ball, sound tackling). 

Will they "replace" Revis and Browner? Probably not. Will they perform at a serviceable level? Most likely.

Winners: Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler

Defensive Tackle

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With two first-round picks at defensive tackle, you would assume that the Patriots have answered all their questions in the middle of the defensive line. With so many other options available, though, you never know exactly what Bill Belichick has in mind.

The Patriots just used a first-round pick for Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown, and Dominique Easley was the Patriots' first-round choice in 2014, but with Sealver Siliga, Alan Branch and Chris Jones all on the roster, the "winners" may not matter much, since we're more likely to see a constant rotation of linemen.

It would be a surprise (and a disappointment) if Easley is not among the snap leaders in the 2015 season. The Patriots are looking at Easley to become the disruptive presence in the middle that they've always lacked. Meanwhile, Malcom Brown should be an instant hit in the run-defense department.

Sticking with the theme of young defensive tackles, Siliga should be one of the top participants on defense due to his ability to stuff gaps in run defense. In fact, that ability could earn him more starts than Easley, even if it does not earn him more snaps.  

Winners: Dominique Easley, Malcom Brown

Guard

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The only reason that the left guard spot is up for grabs is because the Patriots (inexplicably) have not re-signed veteran guard Dan Connolly despite his continued status as a free agent. 

That's the only reason why Florida State rookie Tre' Jackson should already be considered a front-runner to start at left guard. He was one of the top guards in the nation headed into the 2014 season, but an average season dwindled his draft stock to a mid-round selection. He may not be the most athletic blocker, but he still has plenty of upside as a run-blocker with the ability to move defenders off the ball.

Even with Ryan Wendell back in the fold, nothing is cast in stone at right guard, either. Yes, the veteran and former center played admirably at his new position in 2014, but who knows if that was a one-time thing or if he will continue to get opportunities to prove himself at guard.

Wendell is slated to cost $2.45 million against the salary cap this year, but if the Patriots went with a younger option like Josh Kline, they could save that money. 

That being said, one of the reasons the Patriots offensive line struggled early last year was a lack of consistency and dependability. Losing Wendell would create another chink in the armor in that respect, so perhaps the $2.45 million salary isn't too much to spend for a little insurance.

Winners: Ryan Wendell, Tre' Jackson

Strong Safety

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There are four strong safeties on the Patriots roster with a legitimate claim to a roster spot.

Tavon Wilson was a second-round pick and has not lived up to the billing on defense, but he's contributed as a core special teams player for years. Patrick Chung revitalized his career when given a second chance in New England after previously flaming out with the Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.

Duron Harmon has played well in passing situations and is also a special teams contributor at times. Then, of course, there's rookie Jordan Richards, a surprising second-round draft choice by the Patriots in May. 

Someone's going to get cut.

It's not likely to be Chung, who was just signed to a three-year contract extension in January. It's probably not going to be Richards, who was just drafted with a high selection less than a month ago. The battle is likely to come down to Harmon and Wilson, and whichever one shows more value on defense should be the one who sticks around in 2015. 

Harmon looks like the one who's more likely to stick. Wilson's primary role has been on special teams, and his role on defense has been next to nothing in the past couple of years. Wilson has a lot of toughness for an in-the-box safety, but it's hard to erase the image of him being beaten for several long passes as a rookie, and he hasn't had much of an opportunity to show improvement in that area.

The Patriots have turned to Harmon in passing situations for extra coverage next to Devin McCourty, and they have utilized Chung to his strengths of providing run support and covering in short spaces. It looks like Wilson is the odd man out. 

Winners: Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Jordan Richards

Edge Defender (3-4 Outside Linebacker/4-3 Defensive End)

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The Patriots didn't invest a lot of resources into the cornerback position this offseason, so it makes perfect sense that they put all their chips in the middle of the pile for the front seven. Now, with four newly acquired pass-rushers at their disposal, the Patriots have an opportunity to get much more creative with their defensive calls.

Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich will still be the starters; there is little doubt of that. The question is who will be the first to come in off the bench when either Jones or Ninkovich come off the field. 

At 6'3" and 264 pounds, free-agent acquisition Jabaal Sheard has the perfect frame to play on the end of the line in the Patriots defense. 

He was much more productive as a defensive end in a 4-3, where he notched 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons. He moved to outside linebacker in a 3-4 in 2013, though, and he has fallen off since, compiling only 7.5 sacks in the past two seasons. Perhaps a change of scenery could help.

The Patriots will probably wait to see what Geneo Grissom can do before slotting him in anywhere in particular; the 6'3", 262-pound rookie has played all over the defense. From a size and skill standpoint, though, he's probably going to be at his best at outside linebacker.

Alabama's Xzavier Dickson and Arkansas' Trey Flowers will also be involved in the competition, but both men have much to learn before they're ready for big roles in an NFL defense. Dont'a Hightower could factor into the rotation on the edge, as well, but he'll be on the field for almost every snap. When the Patriots need some fresh legs, they could be turning to a veteran and a rookie. 

Winners: Jabaal Sheard, Geneo Grissom