As new rumors swirl about the Patriots' chances of trading for wide receiver AJ Brown, the team had its first OTAs practice in front of the media, providing fans with the first glimpse of what the reigning AFC Champions might look like this fall.
There were plenty of players who stood out, in good ways and bad, and among the best of the day was surprisingly on offense, with DeMario Douglas stealing the spotlight with the most catches on the day, even above new receiver Romeo Doubs.
He was Drake Maye's favorite target, recording four receptions on five targets, and one of the most impressive was a long crosser route that reporters declared would have been a touchdown during a regular season game.
It's the kind of start Douglas needed ahead of training camp, and he will need to keep the momentum going during the summer to solidify his role on the offense because, as of right now, his chances aren't looking too good.
However, his performance immediately ignites a roster battle within the receiving corps, which was already predicted to happen, but Douglas wasn't expected to kick things off.
The battle for the final spots on the receiving chart will be one for Patriots fans to watch
With Doubs expected to be the WR1, unless the Patriots successfully trade for Brown, then he'd be the WR2, the rest of the depth chart is yet to be decided. That gives Douglas a chance to compete for a role, although many have already suggested he's a long shot to make the team.
He will have to keep up with teammates like Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, maybe even Kyle Williams, and certainly beat Efton Chism in order to secure a locker this season.
But there is a chance it won't matter much what he does, because this wouldn't be the first summer in which he's outperformed some of his teammates and hasn't been given a proper opportunity to use his skills once the season started.
There was a strong belief that he would be catapulted into superstardom in 2025 because of Josh McDaniels' return as the offensive coordinator, but that didn't happen. Instead, it took weeks for Douglas to see the field much, but when he did, he made the most of the chance.
He certainly made some good plays and proved he could be a reliable weapon for Maye to work with, yet it still wasn't enough for McDaniels to utilize him more.
That might change if he continues to steal the show at practices this summer, whether or not Brown is on the team. Or his worst bet is to hold down the role of a returner on special teams, which could be his way to remain on the team.
We'll have to see how the rest of OTAs go and what he looks like at training camp before coming to any conclusions. But the unfortunate reality is that Douglas appears to be in a position to fight for his job, regardless of how well he's played for the Patriots in the past.
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