The New England Patriots made significant upgrades to their offense this offseason, but none more so than the receiver room. The squad added a pair of new weapons to headline the group: A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
Brown has been one of the best receivers in the league over the last half-decade, as he's broken the 1,000-yard threshold each of his last four seasons and six of his seven seasons in the NFL. Doubs was a sound option in Green Bay, but the playoffs were when he played his best.
The former Nevada wideout averaged 5 catches for 92.8 yards per game during his four postseason matchups in Green Bay. He most recently had 8 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' loss to Chicago in the Wild Card round.
While Stefon Diggs was released, New England hasn't seen any major departures in the receiver room, meaning they currently have seven players who fit the bill as potential contributors in 2026: Brown, Doubs, and the five players rostered in 2025.
That list includes Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism.
While it would be justifiable for the team to keep all seven on the roster, ESPN's Mike Reiss isn't so sure that will be the reality.
The Patriots predicted to cut ties with one of their seven receivers
While New England's receiver room is talented, it doesn't necessarily mean everyone has a place on the roster. Boutte has been the subject of trade rumors, but Williams was reportedly working with the second team early in camp. Given that Williams was selected by Vrabel and company just a season ago, his roster position seems safe, but he could see a reduced role.
Reiss suggests that "if everyone is healthy, [7] might be one too many". As odd as it might sound for the wideouts, the doomsday scenario for a select few may be if they all stay healthy. For Douglas, Williams, and Chism specifically, there could be a major reduction in snaps, especially if Boutte is not traded.
The Patriots have extensive depth at receiver, and forcing themselves to thin it out may not be the best move. Brown and Doubs are surefire contributors, but given the lack of interest in Boutte from other teams, retaining him may make the most sense. Does a sixth-round pick make up for Boutte's loss? Unlikely.
Moving the former LSU wideout would make sense if he becomes a problem in the locker room, but not at this time given his barren market.
Hollins and Williams are other sound options on the outside. While Hollins operated as an intermediate threat for most of the season, Williams became a weapon on the outside, despite being the WR5.
Douglas and Chism are slot options. No other receiver has spent extensive time on the inside; each of them has, putting them in a slightly different category. I mentioned the importance of Douglas excelling to fend off the rising EWU alum, as there's a possibility Douglas is shown the door if they look to pare the room down.
A deep receiver room offers a contingency plan
Aside from their offensive talent, the receivers offer special-teams upside. Hollins has special teams experience, while each of Williams, Douglas, and Chism has returned kicks and/or punts. Hollins also operated as a third tight end at times last season before the elevation of C.J. Dippre in November.
While the room would be crowded, it would be a talented one. Remember, receiver rooms can thin out quickly. The 2019 Patriots featured Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, and Jakobi Meyers, despite seeing the likes of Antonio Brown, Demaryius Thomas, and Dontrell Inman all on the team at some point.
First-round selection N'Keal Harry brought more hype than production, which led the team to trade a second-round pick for Mohamed Sanu. Sanu had a productive first game, but he averaged just 18.0 yards per game in his last seven. He was released during roster cutdowns before the following season.
The more receivers New England keeps, the less likely it is that they have a doomsday scenario in which they have to make another desperate trade.
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