The Patriots entered the 2025 NFL season with one of the easiest strength-of-schedules in the entire league, which couldn't have come at a better time for a team in the midst of a massive rebuilding effort. So that led many to believe they could have an impressive opening month, one that could end with a 3-1 record.
Much of that was due to the long list of moves Mike Vrabel and the new regime made during the offseason, through free agency and the draft; nearly every roster weakness was finally addressed in a manner that made sense.
That could even be said about the receiving corps, with the additions of Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency and Kyle Williams through the draft. There was a lot of optimism about what those new players could do, especially joining up with players like DeMario Douglas, who had already proven their worth to the team.
However, after three games, several questions surround some of the receivers, particularly Douglas, as his role has essentially vanished without much reason. It's now gotten to the point that fans are even thinking that maybe it's best to move on from him already.
The Patriots might need to shake up the wide receiver depth chart moving forward
Because the wide receiver room was drastically overhauled this offseason, most fans want to see more from the players who have already shown they can thrive with Drake Maye. At the top of the list is Kayshon Boutte, who has stood out for all the right reasons so far, and already looks like the WR1 that the offense has been lacking.
They also want to see more from Diggs, and even Efton Chism III, who has been a healthy scratch through three weeks so far, which has prompted many to suggest he replace Douglas in the lineup, even going as far as claiming we were blinded by him because he was one of the only productive offensive players of the last few years.
Pop Douglas.
— Michael Rodnick (@MJRodnick) September 21, 2025
Touch conversations. Tough decisions.
“I think we fell in love with Pop because there was no one else” - @John_Zannis
I don’t think he’s wrong. 😬
This sentiment has gained traction online in recent days, raising questions about its credibility.
Could Douglas be a productive part of the Patriots' offense once it's clear what their identity is? Or could his height become a problem, and we're only going to see him pushed out of the weekly game plan even more as the season progresses?
It's difficult to say after just three games, as there is still plenty of time left for things to change and a lot that needs to be worked on. However, if Douglas remains sidelined more than utilized, that could be an early sign of what's inevitably going to happen sooner rather than later.