New England Patriots: 2023 rookies expected to breakout more next season

Demario “Pop” Douglas 

Pharoah Brown is the only Patriots pass catcher with a higher yards-per-catch average than Douglas in 2023. And Brown has only caught nine passes this season. Douglas’s average of 11.8 yards per reception is higher than Stefon Diggs's in 2023. 

Douglas has only caught 44 passes in 2023, though (Diggs has caught 96), and he was inactive for three games. The games he missed were all concussion-related, so that could be a worry going forward. The Patriots used a compensatory pick to draft Douglas with the 210th overall pick. And it worked out a lot better than the 187th pick they spent on Kayshon Boutte. Boutte only caught two passes all year. 

If the Patriots can improve the pass protection and solve their quarterback conundrum Douglas could be a key part of a functioning offense in the future.