The Patriots' current roster is overflowing with wide receivers, and only a few spots are officially up for grabs, since A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are the presumed top two options. That leaves players like Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams all vying for the remaining spots, and they'll need to have a standout summer to lock them up.
That's why Boutte, specifically, has been involved in a lot of trade rumors over the past few months, despite the fact that the Patriots have longed for a packed receiving corps for their young quarterback to utilize for far too long.
But Boutte has improved every year since he was drafted in 2023, putting him on the radar across the league, especially as he is about to play on the final year of his rookie contract.
There hasn't been much said about whether the Patriots want to extend him, and because he is allegedly on the trade block, it would be fair to assume they don't plan to. And because of that, it might make more sense to trade him.
The same could be said about Douglas, even though he has become an integral part of practice in recent weeks.
Regardless, they are competing against their closest teammates for the final few spots on the roster, assuming the Patriots will carry only six receivers in 2026. But luckily for them, Mike Vrabel didn't shut down the idea of keeping more than that, and it might be their best option.
Mike Vrabel isn't shutting down the possibility of the Patriots keeping a stacked receiver room
Ahead of Friday's practice, reporters asked Vrabel about whether he'd consider keeping seven receivers for the 2026 season, something most teams don't typically do, and without hesitation, he said yes.
He emphasized wanting to keep all players who can help the team win, and given the current wide receiver room, it would be hard to cut many out since they have plenty of talent who could help them accomplish that.
Mike Vrabel on whether the #Patriots would roster 7 WRs:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 7, 2026
“Sure. Yeah. All we have to do is figure out the best way to keep guys that are gonna help us win and that have roles on this team… That’s our job, and that’s me, and Eliot [Wolf], and Ryan [Cowden], and Stretch.… pic.twitter.com/fJkHjkrAIr
Because beyond the seasoned veterans of the group (Brown, Doubs, and Hollins), the receiver room is mostly inexperienced, keeping Boutte and Douglas would make a lot of sense. And from what we heard from Vrabel about Kyle Williams, it would be fair to assume that he's clearly making the roster, too.
Players like Boutte and Douglas have proven themselves valuable to the offense, particularly Boutte over the past two years, and his connection with Drake Maye has been the most showcased through training camp so far.
Douglas has picked up steam, as well, which will be key to locking up a spot after a mostly forgettable 2025 season. Except for a few plays, he wasn't integrated into the game plan as much as people thought he would be, but that is expected to change in Year 2 under Josh McDaniels.
That leaves just one spot up for grabs for the rest of the receivers to compete for, and from what has been seen so far, it might be Efton Chism's job to lose.
His special teams versatility and the fact that he already has one year under his belt might be what gives him the edge over the others, and he could make the 53-man roster rather than be relegated to the practice squad for the upcoming season.
It's a fortunate problem for the Patriots to have, since for so long, they have struggled to find capable receivers who could make the kind of impact to keep their offense afloat. Instead, they have nearly built a fortress around Maye for the immediate and long-term future, and it can only get better from here.
That gives a major opportunity to some receivers who might otherwise have been overlooked or easier cuts. But Vrabel doesn't appear too eager to let anyone go just yet, and that's the kind of lifeline some players need to take advantage of moving forward.
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