Josh McDaniels' return to New England for a third stint was initially met with mixed reactions from analysts and fans alike, largely because of how poorly his last run as head coach with the Raiders went. On top of that, many weren't thrilled with how he ran the Patriots' offense before his departure, so there were concerns about how his playcalling would impact Drake Maye in a very telling Year 2.
Fortunately, everything appeared to go exactly how anyone could have imagined it, and Maye reached new heights as a quarterback, ultimately falling just short of Matthew Stafford to win last season's MVP Award.
That doesn't mean, however, that there weren't problems with the offense, despite all of the positive changes McDaniels made. In fact, there are still lingering concerns this offseason about what the group will look like this fall, one of which is the usage of some more under-the-radar good players expected to return in 2026.
Mike Vrabel pointed out one of those issues while speaking to reporters this week, and it felt like a direct message not only to the receiver but also to McDaniels, about what he wants to see from the offense moving forward.
Mike Vrabel makes it clear that he wants to see DeMario Douglas more involved in the Patriots' offense
While meeting with reporters during the NFL Owners' meeting in Phoenix, Vrabel discussed the state of the offense, particularly wide receivers, and shared his desire to see DeMario Douglas be more involved in game plans next season.
Considering he was used more as a secret weapon last season, despite how much he has proved he can be a real threat on the field, it makes sense that the head coach would want to see him used more.
“I think Pop is a player that’s going to really continue to grow and develop, and we have to find ways to get him the ball."
Although Douglas is clearly not a WR1, given his size and play style, he has consistently been productive for the Patriots over the past three years. He peaked in 2024 by logging 66 receptions for 621 yards and three touchdowns, and came close to replicating that last year once he was finally given the chance to shine.
His most memorable moments came when the offense needed him, particularly against the Saints in Week 6, when one of his incredible touchdowns was taken back, and against the Falcons in Week 9, when he ended the day with four receptions for 100 yards and a score.
It seemed like McDaniels wanted to use him as a secret weapon, and that worked. But there is so much more that Douglas can do, and it's clear that Vrabel wants to see that.
Now we'll have to wait until the team gets back to Foxborough to see if the offensive coordinator will involve him more in the offensive game plan.