Patriots may have no choice but to give trade candidate another chance now

Most of the conversation around the Patriots' 2026 receiving corps has revolved around the idea that AJ Brown will be leading the room as the WR1 for Drake Maye. We won't know if that will be a reality until as soon as next week, but all signs point to the three-time Pro Bowler making his way to New England.

Beyond him, there is a room of talented pass catchers who will be vying for the remaining spots on the roster, with one of the most intriguing options of all being DeMario Douglas.

Although he didn't have the best season of his career in 2025, despite many believing Josh McDaniels' presence would elevate him to a new level, he's still a proven option for Maye to work with, and it might be best to keep him around.

Trade rumors have dominated the conversation about Douglas, which made his impressive OTAs debut that much more important. Because he will be fighting for a role on the team, he will need to stack more practices like that together, and it doesn't hurt that a new analysis by Max Loeb considers him one of the most underrated receivers in the entire AFC.

The Patriots have every reason to keep underrated DeMario Douglas around for the 2026 season

There is a long list of talented receivers within the conference, many of whom don't get nearly as much praise as they should. Loeb considers one of them to be Douglas, and it's difficult to argue against his point.

In fact, it becomes just the latest example of why the Patriots should seriously consider keeping Douglas in Foxboro for the upcoming season.

Since he was drafted in 2023, Douglas has defied the odds and exemplified what makes the Patriots a determined team.

He has proven he can be a reliable option for any quarterback to rely on, and he can create explosive plays to put the offense in a good position on game day. We saw last season that, although it took several weeks for McDaniels to actually give him an opportunity, that should be a leading reason for him to remain on the roster.

He became somewhat of a secret weapon on game day, and that seemed to be the perfect role for him to hold. This year, we should see it more often, and hopefully, McDaniels will give him that chance.

Regardless of whether Brown ends up on the team or not, Douglas has the tools to be a consistent performer on the offense, and that's what should matter most when planning for the upcoming season, particularly with Maye being the sole focus.

While it might be tempting to trade him, especially if other teams also consider him underrated, there's no need to even consider it if giving Maye the best chance to succeed is the top priority, as they have shown it to be.

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