Great question, one that was (at least partially) answered Monday afternoon when the Patriots announced the release of six players. While Mike Vrabel has been straightforward with returning players, telling them that everyone is going to have a fresh slate with the new staff, it’s easy to draw a line between some of the positions that will get overhauls. I wouldn’t be shocked to see one of the younger offensive linemen (particularly those added in the last year) let go, especially if rookies such as Will Campbell and Jared Wilson are up to the test of playing regularly in the NFL. On defense, there are a number of younger defensive backs who were added over the last year who could be released.

What, if anything, is the Patriots’ rhyme or reason for determining and signing undrafted free agents?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

First, it starts as a race to track down and identify the best players who have gone undrafted. The agents are usually fielding calls from multiple teams, and many are asking players to make decisions quickly. For teams, a lot comes into play. Positions of need certainly figure into the equation. There are also interesting prospects that can catch the eye of a scout, players who go undrafted for any number of reasons (lack of size, speed, etc.). What can best be described as “signability” occasionally comes into play as well: Can teams get a deal done quickly with a player, for one reason or another? It’s all part of the conversation.

Which UDFA they’ve reached a deal with is your early favorite to make the team?

— Roger Gold, via email

I won’t pretend like I’ve seen every game, but when it comes to stats and potential story lines, I’ll give you two I’m the most interested in watching.

One, Lan Larison, a do-everything running back from UC Davis. Larison had a whopping 284 carries for 1,465 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024, and added 62 catches for 847 yards and six scores. Add in that he’s a former rodeo champ, and you have a guy worth rooting for.

And two, fullback Brock Lampe. In my experience, the return of Josh McDaniels means the return of the neck roll and the lead blocker. Right now, Lampe is the only fullback on the roster, which means he could have a leg up if McDaniels is interested in bringing it back. Toss in that the 6-foot-1-inch, 244-pounder was a captain last year at Northern Illinois, and he has a lot in his favor.

I know they could still make a few moves between now and the start of training camp, but what look like the three best position battles for the Patriots over the spring and summer?

— Charles Bynes, Portsmouth, Va., via e-mail.

The back end of the wide receiver depth chart, running back, and kicker. We’re going to see those fights last all the way until Labor Day.

Can you shed some light on how a team builds a draft board? And is position a factor? Like, would a wide receiver have an edge over a long snapper if they had the same score?

— Tim C., Charlestown, R.I.

In my conversations with people who have been in draft rooms, usually three things go into building a draft board: initial scouting, evaluating measurements, and input from coaches. Once you get through those steps, a debate ensues with coaches, scouts, and the rest of the front office, and a player is graded.

Vrabel explained some of the Patriots’ grading/ranking system prior to the draft, explaining how the team organizes prospect grades vertically (at the same position) and horizontally (across multiple positions). Position can be a factor, but there are other things to consider.

“There’s kind of the ranking system within the grade, when you start stacking players vertically amongst their position,” Vrabel said. “And then, you start to look at it horizontally, [where] other players at another position with the same grade would rank higher. So, maybe one player over here would lose out to another player over here, even though they’re on the same line.”

When it comes to grading, Vrabel mentioned a few other elements.

“Within the position, versatility, the ability to play another position, some of probably the testing numbers, or what we feel like on film,” he said. “But we try to go through, and that’s done and finished as far as the vertical process of where we see each player.”

Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.