The offense was expected to be a heavy focus for onlookers during Patriots training camp this summer, with the hopeful second-year jump from quarterback Drake Maye easily made possible by the impressive wide receiver additions made to the team through free agency and the draft.
That put a lot of emphasis on Stefon Diggs, in particular, who has already made headlines for being cleared to participate in training camp just eight months after suffering an ACL injury. And while he has been fascinating to watch so far, it's DeMario Douglas who has consistently stolen the show at practice.
The third-year receiver has been part of the biggest plays during training camp so far, with some eye-popping catches, the first of which came on the second day of practice.
.@popshotta3 getting 🆙 pic.twitter.com/m47XQJTAZu
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 24, 2025
That immediately got fans fired up about how improved the offense will be this upcoming season, but Douglas has continued to steal the spotlight at practice, seemingly solidifying his spot on the 2025 roster even more.
DeMario Douglas is dominating the spotlight far more than anyone imagined he would at Patriots training camp
There have been some questions regarding Douglas' potential role on the Patriots' roster moving forward, now that Josh McDaniels has returned to the coaching staff. The arrival of Diggs and the rise of UDFA Efton Chism III had some wondering if Douglas could take a backseat, given the kind of player he is.
However, his consistency and impressive performances at practice have made it easy to believe he's a roster lock moving forward, with the latest example being a 50+-yard bomb from Maye last Saturday, adding another moment to his summer highlight reel.
.@DrakeMaye2 🎯 @popshotta3 pic.twitter.com/Oinh4aaXee
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 26, 2025
If this is any indication of just how good the connection between Douglas and Maye will be and how well the receiver is catching onto McDaniels' offense, then there's no room for doubt that he will be on the 2025 roster.
The offense must be able to grasp the complex playbook that McDaniels is known for implementing, and it's even more critical that the team keeps the players who are thriving in the new scheme for the upcoming season, especially if they want Maye to have a potential breakout year after a standout rookie season.
The fact that Douglas is already benefiting from the new offense proves just how important he will be for the team this fall, and he could become a secret weapon for Maye more so than anyone could have anticipated.
Given how well slot receivers have played in a McDaniels-run offense in the past, it's easy to believe that Douglas will follow suit. He's already showing an understanding of the playbook on a minor scale, so opening him up to the game plan this season could have him be a superstar in the making.
Douglas has demonstrated the potential to be exactly the kind of player the Patriots need over the last two seasons by recording 115 receptions for 1,182 yards and three touchdowns. That was with multiple quarterbacks and offensive coordinators. So now that he will have Maye and McDaniels to work with for the foreseeable future, there's a good chance his breakout is on the horizon.