Going into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots are picking much lower than they have in recent years, as they will be on the clock at No. 31 rather than in the top 10. That has made it nearly impossible to predict which position or players they will likely target, and it's become more about who they have been connected to through pre-draft meetings or ongoing rumors.
Recent chatter, according to draft analyst Tony Pauline, suggests that Eliot Wolf has had his eye on some receivers, most notably Kevin Coleman Jr. He is said to have been impressed with the Missouri Alum during his Pro Day, and he should be a name Patriots fans pay attention to on Day 3.
Although that's not problematic on the surface, it certainly is for a player who is similar in stature and how he plays the position: DeMario Douglas.
Eliot Wolf was “effusive in his praise” for WR Kevin Coleman Jr. at Missouri’s Pro Day which signaled “strong interest” from the #Patriots, per @TonyPauline.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) March 25, 2026
The 5’10 179-pound slot receiver is capable of turning any catch or punt return into a TD.
He is a projected Day 3 pick. pic.twitter.com/tBtF2aK1ak
There has been a lot of discussion this offseason about Douglas' future on the Patriots roster, and this is just the latest sign that it is far from certain he will be on the team in 2026.
Coleman is a similar player in a lot of aspects, and if Wolf is intrigued with him going into the draft, there's good reason to believe that Douglas might be on his way out.
All signs point to DeMario Douglas fighting for a roster spot on the Patriots this season
One of the main goals for the Patriots this offseason is to improve their receiving corps, and they started that by signing Romeo Doubs after releasing Stefon Diggs. They remain in the conversation surrounding AJ Brown's potential trade, and they continue to be connected to wide receivers in next month's draft.
The latest name to be added to that list is Coleman, and because Wolf is the presumed general manager, his interest in a player will hold some weight.
That unfortunately paints a grim future for someone like Douglas, who already saw his role on the offense diminish quite a bit during the 2025 season. He had once played like the WR1 in New England, but that role changed last year with the arrival of Stefon Diggs.
On top of that, Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins leapfrogged him on the depth chart, so he walks into this offseason already fighting to climb up the ladder.
There are expectations surrounding Kyle Williams heading into his second season, and if he thrives this summer, that is also a bad sign for Douglas.
He will have to prove even further that he is the right guy to keep around, even if they decide to draft a player with similar characteristics like Coleman, if he wants to maintain a special role within the receiving corps, which he seemed to develop last year.
Douglas showed he can be a secret weapon of sorts for Drake Maye during the 2025 season, but that might not count for much in the eyes of Wolf and Co. if they believe someone like Coleman can be more consistently productive.