The New England Patriots have just concluded an almost miraculous, transformative turnaround season under the tutelage of Mike Vrabel. He took a listless, poorly constructed roster that logged a dismal 2024 record of 4-13 and finished with a 14-3 record to win the AFC East.
Vrabel should win the NFL's Coach of the Year award for the second time. No one has done a better job. But now that offseason talk has begun, one top analyst has predicted that the popular Demario Douglas will be traded.
The idea won't be well-received by Patriot Nation. Douglas has an infectious personality and is well-regarded. Yet, after leading the team in receptions with 66 for 621 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, he regressed to only 31 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
In addition, there is a clear replacement already in place who's a candidate to rock the NFL world if the Patriots' coaches ever snap out of their fog and realize exactly what they have on their hands. That is Efton Chism III, the undrafted free agent who catches everything thrown his way, though he inexplicably had a mere three targets all season long.
Expect Efton Chism to step in for Pop Douglas in 2026
Demario "Pop" Douglas is a decent receiver, but he doesn't exhibit any one quality that makes him indispensable. He had a mediocre 2025, and under Vrabel, it's all about production. Douglas didn't have enough in 2025, and the guy behind him on the depth chart, Efton Chism, is a Julian Edelman II, waiting to explode onto the scene.
Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald suggested 20 predictions for the Patriots in 2026, and one of them, trading Douglas, may come as a shock to Patriot Nation. It shouldn't.
"This one hurts. Douglas may be the most well-liked player in the locker room and is certainly a joy to cover. But he’s entering a contract year with a clear replacement behind him on the depth chart. Efton Chism may not be ready for a full-time job in 2026, but he’s a hand-in-glove fit for the slot receiver role in this system and can split snaps with Stefon Diggs."
Expectations for Douglas in 2025 were high based on his 2024 production. He failed to realize them. That, coupled with the enormous, though either unrecognized or ignored, talent of Chism, is a reason why Callahan's prediction may be spot-on this offseason.
Efton Chism will explode onto the scene in 2026
If the myopic Patriots' offensive coaching staff doesn't get Efton Chism into the offensive game planning in the playoffs in a big way, as they should, they will certainly do so in 2026. Chism is an exceptional talent, and only poor coaching has kept him bottled up on the Patriots bench and not getting multiple targets every game.
Unfortunately, it's the uber-popular Douglas who'll likely get moved as a result. Callahan's prediction makes sense, and Douglas may even fetch more than the standard fare the Patriots accept for any player they trade, a paltry sixth-round pick. Though don't expect it. The Patriots' backroom staff seems to think sixth-round picks are game-breakers, so that's probably what they'll get.
In any event, the expectations for Chism should be sky-high as Douglas' replacement, as they were for him this season. Unfortunately, the Patriots' Offensive Coordinator and his staff totally missed the boat on the rookie, though the team had shelled out a guaranteed contract for the ultra-productive Eastern Washington undrafted free agent.
The Patriots made a few personnel gaffes in 2025 as Mike Vrabel threw a masterpiece in both offseason roster construction and coaching. Yet, one gaffe was the non-use of Chism. Hopefully they'll "get it" for the playoffs, but don't count on it.
Regardless, if Douglas is traded as Callahan predicts, he should get his opportunity in 2026, and he'll explode onto the scene as a result.