The New England Patriots have a brutal track record when it comes to drafting wide receivers, with 2016 fourth-rounder Malcolm Mitchell their closest thing to a “hit” over the past decade-plus.
That Mitchell only played one NFL season due to chronic knee injuries tells you all you need to know about the team’s struggles at the wide receiver position over the years.
To the Patriots’ credit, they keep trying. Ja’Lynn Polk, their 2024 second-round pick, feels like a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but Kayhon Boutte, a sixth-round pick of Bill Belichick’s final draft class in 2023, has gotten first-team reps throughout the start of training camp. Another young roster lock is Kyle Williams, a third-round rookie whose rapport with quarterback Drake Maye might be blossoming before our eyes.
Williams had a pair of touchdown connections with Maye this week, per Brian Hines of Pats Pulpit, and the rookie hinted that the sky’s the limit on where that connection could grow come Week 1 of the regular season.
“Drake trusted me enough to put the ball in the air and for me to make something shake,” Williams told reporters Thursday. “I feel like that chemistry, that connection, is steadily growing and is getting better. Who knows what it will look like at the end of training camp? So we’ll just wait and see.”
Patriots wide receiver depth chart: Kyle Williams could be X-factor in Josh McDaniels’ offense
Assuming Stefon Diggs remains fully cleared following training camp, the Patriots’ wide receiver group is pretty much set, with Diggs and Boutte the favorites to start on the boundaries and Demario Douglas returning to his familiar slot receiver role. Williams will enter New England’s first preseason game on that WR3/4 line, with plenty of room to rise if things continue to click with Maye in practice.
As for the rest of the depth chart, Mack Hollins should make the initial 53 as a depth receiver and core special teams contributor. Kendrick Bourne’s spot is a bit more questionable, leaving the veteran on the roster bubble along with young players like Polk, Javon Baker, and training camp standout Efton Chism.
Williams' role should grow throughout the season. The Patriots will want to weaponize not only his elite speed down the field, but his big-play abilities in the quick passing game. He's also a key insurance policy for Diggs, whose speedy return from 2024 ACL surgery has been among the more encouraging stories of training camp. Still, Diggs will turn 32 during the season, and it's fair to question how his body will hold up as Maye's No. 1 target.
New England's offense stands to improve in 2025, with McDaniels calling the plays, Maye entering Year 2, and some notable upgrades at left tackle (Will Campbell), running back (TreVeyon Henderson), and receiver (Diggs). You could argue that no skill position player is more important than Williams, though, as New England looks to develop the young star wideout it's been searching for dating back farther than fans care to remember.