{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"Five Patriots position battles that took shape during spring practices","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/06/16/patriots_position_battles.png","caption":"

The Patriots will hold one final OTA practice on Thursday, which will mark the end of Phase 3 of the team's offseason program. Until training camp begins in late July, there will be no further on-the-field activities.

Though reporters will not be able to attend Thursday's workout, there are a few positional battles that seemed to take shape over the course of the five OTA and minicamp practices that were open to members of the media.

Spring practices are thought of by the Patriots coaching staff as a "teaching camp," but once training camp kicks off, the approach changes. At that point, workouts are more geared toward competition as players vie for jobs.

There figures to be plenty of competition -- both for roster spots and for depth-chart position -- at these five spots . . .

"},{"index":3,"title":"1. STORK vs. ANDREWS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/06/16/stork_vs._andrews.png","caption":"

The headlining battle found in a stacked group of interior offensive linemen will be between Bryan Stork and David Andrews. The pair split reps snapping to Tom Brady during minicamp and OTAs, and it seems as though Andrews will be given a legitimate shot to prove he deserves to start over Stork. Andrews played every snap through the first nine games of last season, helping the Patriots go 9-0. When Stork was activated off of short-term injured reserve, he re-claimed the role of starter.

THE UNDERCARD

The guard spots appear to be very much up for grabs this summer as well. Rookie third-rounder Joe Thuney (left guard) and Jonathan Cooper (right guard) saw the majority of the work in front of Brady this spring, but last year's prime contributors were absent for much of that time. Shaq Mason missed all but one practice that was open to the media, while Tre' Jackson and Josh Kline were gone for all five. Once the pads are introduced, we'll likely have a better sense of which players are angling for a solidified role. Rookie sixth-rounder Ted Karras may be competing for a practice-squad spot, but he showed versatility by playing both guard and center -- as Thuney did -- over the course of the last month.

"},{"index":5,"title":"2. WHITE vs. BROWN vs. FOSTER","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/06/16/white_brown_foster_061516.png","caption":"

Who will be the pass-catching running back used to spell Dion Lewis? There's something brewing here. James White still seems like the favorite, in my opinion, due to his sure hands and his understanding of the system. But veteran Donald Brown and undrafted rookie DJ Foster should not be counted out as far as this competition goes. Brown showed dependable mitts in OTAs and minicamp, and he could separate himself with his ability to run between the tackles and pass-protect when the pads come on. Foster, who spent his senior season at Arizona State as a receiver, is a very fluid catcher of the football and has impressive quickness. A tweaked hamstring limited Foster's opportunities toward the end of minicamp.

THE UNDERCARD

LeGarrette Blount seems to have a good grip on the "big back" role for 2016, but he was absent for all practices open to the media as he works his way back from a season-ending hip injury. His primary competition this summer will be from Joey Iosefa and Tyler Gaffney.

"},{"index":7,"title":"3. HARBOR vs. DEVELIN","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/06/16/harbor_develin.png","caption":"

The season-ending knee injury suffered by Michael Williams during minicamp may have opened the door for another tight end to make the final 53-man roster. Though none of the other reserve tight ends -- Clay Harbor, AJ Derby, Bryce Williams or Steve Scheu -- fit the size and block-first skill set Williams provided, the Patriots may welcome another versatile piece into this positional group with Williams out. The choice could come down to Harbor and fullback James Develin. Both can line up in various spots, but both have their own distinct strengths. Might the team want a more traditional lead-blocking fullback who can catch, or will it want a pass-catching tight end who can occasionally lead-block? Perhaps Williams' injury opens up room for both.

THE UNDERCARD

If the Patriots are looking for an old-school fullback -- something they lacked after Develin broke his leg last preseason -- Develin would be the clear front-runner, but Iosefa saw time there this spring as well. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has long been a proponent of the fullback position despite the fact that it has gone somewhat out of style in today's NFL.

"},{"index":9,"title":"4. DOBSON vs. MARTIN vs. WASHINGTON","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/06/16/dobson_washington_martin.png","caption":"

Bill Belichick may have to make the final ruling on a competition where there are three veteran wideouts fighting for two roster spots. Aaron Dobson had a standout spring, but he'll have to stay healthy and continue that momentum into the summer in order to secure his spot because there are others who threaten to take it from him. Veteran free-agent signee Nate Washington isn't ready to call it a career just yet. And the favorite -- in my opinion -- to make the squad among this trio may be Keshawn Martin, who showed early chemistry with Brady last season and has experience playing both inside and outside in this offense. Martin also has special teams value as a returner, something neither Washington nor Dobson have shown.

THE UNDERCARD

There are a trio of young pass-catchers who will be worth watching once training camp gets going. Chris Harper, DeAndre Carter and seventh-round rookie Devin Lucien all turned heads at various points during OTAs and minicamp. If any of the above three veterans falter, one of them could capitalize in September. Harper, who had a strong preseason last year and is still just 22 years old after leaving Cal in 2015 with one year of eligibility remaining, looks like the best bet to potentially earn a spot.

"},{"index":11,"title":"5. COLEMAN vs. ROBERTS vs. JONES","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/06/16/coleman_vs._roberts_vs._jones_061516.png","caption":"

The Patriots have three locks at cornerback headed into this season: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan and second-round pick Cyrus Jones. After that, things are muddled. Justin Coleman made a strong first impression last season when healthy, and his spot seems to be relatively safe. But between Coleman, 2015 seventh-rounder Darryl Roberts and undrafted rookie Jonathan Jones, there may be room for only two on the regular-season roster. Roberts and Jones are both athletically gifted -- Jones was one of the fastest players at this year's combine and Roberts had one of the more eye-opening pro days of any rookie last year -- and they could provide one of the more entertaining back-and-forth competitions in camp. Jones stood out during the final OTA practice that was open to reporters, getting his hands on multiple targets sent his way for pass breakups.

THE UNDERCARD

If Butler and Ryan man the outside corner spots once again this season, it will be fascinating to see how the Patriots handle their nickel packages. Will they go with the three-safety look -- with Patrick Chung playing down near the line of scrimmage and Duron Harmon deep -- that they so often used in 2015? Or will Cyrus Jones work his way into the nickel mix? Jones found his way into that group this spring, but Harmon was not present at any practice open to reporters, and his arrival could change the dynamic of the defense.

"}]}