The Patriots' receiving corps for the 2026 season has been fairly clear for much of the offseason, particularly after trading for A.J. Brown. He would be Drake Maye's newest top target, followed by Romeo Doubs, and the rest of the depth chart would be determined throughout training camp.
It was assumed that Kayshon Boutte would be the WR3, but now that he's gone, there is a big opportunity for the other receivers to jump ahead and claim that role for themselves. And based on what we've seen over the past few weeks, it looked like DeMario Douglas' job to lose.
Despite having an unexpectedly forgettable first year under Josh McDaniels, Douglas had flashes of greatness throughout the 2025 season that proved he could be a reliable secret weapon of sorts for Maye on game day.
That was especially true in the game against the Saints last year, even if one of Douglas' touchdowns was taken away due to a penalty. So going into this season, there was presumably going to be an emphasis on including him more in the game plan, which is exactly what McDaniels shared over the summer.
Now, looking at the first unofficial depth chart ahead of next week's season opener, it's clear where the Patriots stand with Douglas, and we could be in for the best season of his career.
The Patriots release their first unofficial depth chart and it shows exactly what kind of role their receiving corps will have
As we have all known since he was officially acquired in June, A.J. Brown will be the WR1 for Maye this season, with Romeo Doubs right behind him.
More interestingly, Douglas is considered the WR3, according to the first unofficial depth chart, taking that spot himself instead of Mack Hollins or Kyle Williams, both of whom could have easily been in that position instead.
Here’s a look at the #Patriots first unofficial depth chart for the 2026 regular season: pic.twitter.com/AcJqauVFuJ
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) September 3, 2026
Considering this is where most assumed Boutte would be if he were still on the roster, it shows how much work Douglas has put in this offseason to earn the trust and respect of his coaches and teammates.
He will now be called upon a lot more than he was last year, when he only recorded 31 catches for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was half the number of receptions and nearly 200 receiving yards less than the season before, so it's probably fair to assume he will be more involved again this time around.
Douglas has already established himself as a reliable option, as he has with three different quarterbacks since the start of his Patriots tenure, and now that he has the most talented player under center during that time span, the best is yet to come from the receiver.
Not only that, but having veterans like Brown and Doubs in the locker room to mentor him and other young stars, along with the in-game opportunities their presence will create, should help Douglas improve his performance even more.
Clearly, the coaches already feel he can be exactly what they need and are setting him up for a big 2026 season. We'll have to see if he can prove them right with the more opportunities he will inevitably get and become the best WR3 the offense has had in a long time.
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