Patriots links 7/17/26: Summer spotlight on LB, D-Line

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 2: Harold Landry III #2 of the New England Patriots takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TEAM TALK

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• Mike Dussault’s Patriots Position Snapshot: Linebackers. Roster, analysis. Bottom Line: “Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss lead the way. Both are smart and speedy and make the defense go. If they stay healthy, they should rack up tackles and plays.”
• Training Camp Preview: Linebackers. Mike Dussault, Evan Lazar and Paul Perillo break it all down. (6 min.)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Positional snapshot – DL, Training camp preview, offseason topics. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Khari Thompson’sPatriots 2026 position preview: Defensive Line edition. Milton Williams was dominant. Christian Barmore showed upside. Is there enough depth behind them without Khyiris Tonga?
• Arnav Sharna helps us understand LB Harold Landry’s medical situation: What can the Patriots expect?
• Michael Hurley identifies eight Patriots facing the most pressure ahead of training camp, and why. From Gabe Jacas to Mike Vrabel.
• Hector Longo talks up six Patriots rookies who could follow last year’s instant-impact blueprint.
• Patriots On SI ranks the top 25 Patriots of 2026. No. 9 Can Christian Barmore return to form?
• Hector Longo writes how ESPN snubbed Kevin Byard in its latest safeties rankings. Byard is the veteran pickup New England is counting on to steady a thin secondary.
• Meghan Ottolini ranks every Patriots game from hardest (Seahawks) to easiest (Jets).
• Jerry Thornton says someone finally gets it right by ranking Drake Maye as the No. 1 player in the NFL to build a franchise around.
• Ethan Hurwitz reports Drake Maye has been having fun, hosting youth football camps in the final week before training camp.
• Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick break down the top defensive storylines for the Patriots heading into camp. (13 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Matt Okada (NFL.com) Biggest remaining roster issue for every AFC team. Patriots: Edge rusher. “…this hole could haunt the Pats late into the season.”
• Matt Verderame (SI) 2026 Preseason QB rankings. No. 6 Drake Maye.
• Colin Cowherd (FOX Sports) Top 10 NFL QBs. No. 10 Drake Maye.
• Eva Geitheim, et al (SI) Ranking the NFL’s best WR2s for 2026. No. 10 Romeo Doubs.
• Nick Brinkerhoff (USA Today) The offseason move each team got exactly right in 2026. Patriots: Trading for A.J. Brown.
• Nick Brinkerhoff (USA Today) 13 players that could shake up the trade deadline in 2026. WR Kayshon Boutte included.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) First to worst in the NFL: Ranking 2025 division winners by peril. No. 1 Patriots. /Click for commentary.
• Jacob Camenker (CBS Sports) Predicting 4 teams that could emerge as dark horse contenders in 2026.
• Highlights (ESPN) Drake Maye speaks on his training camp for kids. (25 sec. video)
• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: An early look at 2027 NFL franchise tag candidates; How the salary calculations actually work.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Roger Goodell has “about 10″ more countries in mind for games, including Japan.
• Nick Brinkerhoff (USA Today) Jon Gruden sounds alarms on football: ‘I think the game is dissolving.’

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