When the New England Patriots released wideout Stefon Diggs, their 2025 receiving yards leader, adding talented pass catchers to the roster immediately became an even more urgent offseason priority.
The team made its first major move to address this need by inking former Green Bay Packers receiver Romeo Doubs to a four-year deal worth up to $80 million.
As things stand now, the Nevada product is set to be one of the top targets for quarterback Drake Maye in the passing game next season. Even if the Patriots do end up making a big splash in the trade market and land AJ Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles, or use one of their early-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on a receiver, Doubs figures to play a major role in the success of the offense during the upcoming campaign.
Romeo Doubs can build on solid 2025 showing with Patriots
In 2025, the Packers saw injuries prevent a pair of their key offensive starters, wide receiver Christian Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft, from playing in a combined 16 regular season games, creating additional opportunities for Doubs which he used to put up the greatest receiving yardage total (724) of the four-year player's career, as well as his second highest marks in receptions (55) and touchdown catches (six).
Doubs also had a massive performance during Green Bay's lone postseason contest, recording eight grabs for 124 yards and a score.
For his performance last season, Pro Football Focus gave him a career-best 74.6 overall grade, the 33rd highest mark among 128 qualifying NFL receivers, while Doubs' 67.0% catch rate ranked 14th and his 115.9 passer rating when targeted placed sixth league-wide.
Where Doubs helps New England the most
Replacing the production lost by moving on from Diggs is a task Doubs has the experience to help address, thanks to his similarly impressive route-running skills, which ranked him fifth among all receivers and tight ends in separation win rate in 2025 and second in 2024.
Last season, Diggs led New England with a 21.2% target share last season, while Doubs did the same in Green Bay at an 18.5% clip. The soon-to-be 26-year-old can also assist in filling the intermediate route tree, as he outpaced the now-former Patriot in yards per catch (13.2 compared to 11.9), and earned a 91.9 PFF receiving grade on targets 10-plus yards downfield between the painted numbers, tied for 13th best in the NFL among players with at least 20 qualifying catches.
Though Doubs didn't work out of the slot nearly as much as Diggs (just a 13.8% rate compared to 52.1%), he did put up great results during his limited reps lined up there, producing a 139.8 passer rating when targeted from the Y spot.
The new addition to the Patriots' wide receiver room can win in press coverage and has historically been an asset in the red zone, something New England struggled with a year ago, as 20 of his 23 career touchdowns have been within the 20-yard line.
Patriots accomplished part of offseason goal with Doubs
New England head coach Mike Vrabel said back in February the team is "looking for the better, younger, cheaper player every day," and Doubs certainly checks off at least two of those boxes. He's more than six years Diggs' junior, and will carry a cap hit of just $8.6 million in 2026, much less than the $26.5 million against the cap Diggs would have incurred.
By the time Doubs' contract begins to even come close to his predecessor's price tag ($19.9 million cap hit in 2028 and $20.9 million in 2029), the Patriots have an out, allowing them to part ways at a cost of only $7.5 million in dead cap come 2028 and $3.75 million come 2029.
How New England plans to further address the receiver spot remains to be seen, but having Doubs on the roster gives them both the financial flexibility to add another big name at the position on the trade market, and leverage in such talks with his presence, making the franchise not in as dire need of top-tier depth.
While the Patriots should still continue exploring a potential deal for another receiver and also draft one in April, signing Doubs was an excellent pivot by the front office after other potential options like Alec Pierce and DJ Moore became unavailable.
If missing out on a big-money name like Pierce early in free agency means having the funds left over for both Doubs, plus making a huge trade splash, that will go down as an offseason win.