New England Patriots 2026 Camp Preview: Drake Maye & AJ Brown Chemistry, Pop Douglas & Rookie Buzz w/ Evan Lazar (Ep. 2132)

August 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The chemistry between Drake Maye and A.J. Brown is already generating buzz in New England Patriots training camp, but the story is more nuanced than a simple star pairing. Evan Lazar, senior reporter for Patriots.com, joined the FantasyPros Tailgate to provide a boots-on-the-ground breakdown of what he has seen so far, and his observations offer a realistic picture of what to expect from the offense in 2026.

The A.J. Brown–Drake Maye Connection: Slants Are Easy, Deep Balls Are a Work in Progress

The most anticipated storyline has been the connection between quarterback Drake Maye and newly acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown. Lazar confirmed that the short-to-intermediate stuff is already clicking at a high level. "Every single time they throw a slant to A.J. Brown, it feels like it's completed," he said. The Patriots could run that play ten times a game and find success. However, the downfield passing game has been slower to develop, and Lazar offered an important caveat: Brown is going up against Christian Gonzalez every day in practice, whom Lazar called "maybe the best cornerback in football." Gonzalez is elite at defending the deep part of the field, so the lack of explosive vertical wins in camp is not necessarily a red flag.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:41) **Evan Lazar’s Boots-on-the-Ground Camp Report** - Evan gives his immediate read on the vibe of training camp as it heats up with joint practices and the preseason opener.
2 (02:42) **Key Takeaways from Colts Joint Practice** - A breakdown of what went right and wrong for the Patriots offense and defense against Indianapolis.
3 (05:16) **Eli Raridon’s Realistic Rookie Role** - Evan pours cold water on the hype for the rookie tight end, explaining the historical reality for players drafted in his range.
4 (08:40) **The AJ Brown & Drake Maye Connection** - A deep dive on how the new star receiver is fitting in, with a strong fantasy football angle.
5 (12:50) **Wide Receiver Depth Chart Battle** - A look at how the rest of the receiving corps is shaking out, including the holdovers and the logjam at the bottom.
6 (17:45) **Most Important Defensive Player (Not Named Gonzalez)** - Evan identifies the one player the defense can least afford to lose, citing a glaring lack of depth.
7 (19:56) **Evan’s Preseason “Goat” Story (The Maurice Harris Lesson)** - A cautionary tale about getting duped by training camp hype, which serves as a filter for evaluating current camp buzz.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Join Andrew Erickson on The Tailgate as he welcomes special guest Evan Lazar (Senior Reporter at Patriots.com and host of Patriots Catch-22) for an in-depth, boots-on-the-ground preview of the New England Patriots!

The guys break down the biggest storylines coming out of training camp and joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts, detailing Drake Maye’s progression entering his second season and his blossoming connection with superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown. Plus, they analyze rookie tight end Eli Raridon's role, the wide receiver depth chart battles, and the key players holding down the defense.

Timestamps (maybe off due to ads):

00:00 - Introduction & Welcome Evan Lazar (Patriots.com)
01:28 - Patriots vs. Colts Joint Practice Takeaways & Drake Maye Report
04:24 - Rookie TE Eli Raridon: Upside & Role Behind Hunter Henry
08:00 - Drake Maye & A.J. Brown Connection: Red Zone Role & Scheme Fit
012:30 - Patriots WR Room Breakdown: Pop Douglas, Romeo Doubs & Depth Battles
16:45 - Defense & Linebacker Depth: Robert Spillane’s Critical Role
19:15 - Preseason GOATs & Camp Traps: The Maurice Harris Lesson

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