The New England Patriots entered this offseason knowing the team needed to improve at wide receiver. Stefon Diggs was a pleasant surprise, ending the 2025 season as the team’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.
However, it was evident in the postseason that New England still needed more at the position if it wanted to win a Super Bowl.
In the next edition of our Patriots training camp preview series, we’ll take a look at New England’s wide receiver corps in its entirety and discuss
the biggest takeaways heading into the summer practices. Veterans will report to the facility on July 24.
*Denotes player on the Pats Pulpit 53-man roster projection
Depth chart
Starters: A.J. Brown (28)*, Romeo Doubs (26)*, Mack Hollins (32)*, DeMario Douglas (25)* | Backups: Kayshon Boutte (24), Kyle Williams (23)*, Efton Chism III (24)*, Jeremiah Webb (25), Kyle Dixon (25/R), Cameron Dorner (22/R), Jimmy Kibble (22/R), Nick DeGannaro (25/R)
After the organization released Diggs ahead of free agency, they made substantial investments, acquiring Super Bowl champion A.J. Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles and signing Green Bay Packers receiver Romeo Doubs to a multi-year deal.
As Brown and Doubs headline the group’s foundational duo of the future, some returning players can provide quality depth in what’s a deep receiver room.
Hollins and Boutte are among the most notable returning contributors. In 2025, Boutte emerged as one of Maye’s favorite downfield targets, while Hollins provided a dependable veteran presence in the intermediate passing game. Douglas also remains a valuable piece as a dynamic slot receiver, despite seeing a reduced role last season.
Meanwhile, second-year receivers Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III are competing for larger opportunities, as 2025 undrafted free agent Jeremiah Webb provides additional depth as a potential practice squad option.
Rounding out the back end of the room are four UDFA options in Dixon, Dorner, Kibble and DeGannaro. The Patriots signed Dixon to a contract with $252,500 guaranteed, which is the third-largest guarantee in franchise history. Dorner was also a prolific after-the-catch receiver at North Texas, totaling 14 missed tackles on his way to 911 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
Key question: Will Kayshon Boutte be a member of this group in 2026?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously said on his podcast that Boutte had shown interest in a trade after the acquisition of Brown. Since then, Boutte told the media at mandatory minicamp that he wants to remain in New England.
Maye and Boutte’s downfield chemistry was a staple in the Patriots’ offense last season, with the pair connecting for 340 yards and six touchdowns on deep targets. If New England eventually trades the LSU product, the offense then loses that core component of its identity.
That said, a trade would also open up more opportunities for Williams in his second season.
Maye and Williams connected on a couple of highlight plays last season, but the duo largely struggled to stay on the same page, with frequent miscommunications.
Maybe that changes this offseason. Williams certainly possesses the speed and physical tools to develop into a consistent and explosive downfield threat.
Nonetheless, with Boutte reportedly available for a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, it doesn’t seem that the coaching staff views the fourth-year receiver as a vital offensive piece.
X-Factor: DeMario Douglas
You mostly know what you’re getting from Brown and Doubs in the starting rotation, but Douglas remains a bit of a wild card.
Douglas’ playing time dramatically dipped with Diggs added, to only playing 26.3% of the team’s offensive snaps last season, compared to 62.1% in 2024. Diggs also played roughly half of his snaps lined up in the slot.
So, now with the veteran gone, Douglas immediately reclaims that role.
In two seasons as the primary slot receiver, he amassed just 1,182 yards and three touchdowns. There’s no doubt Douglas has consistently shown an ability to separate against man coverage, yet he’s struggled in zone with finding soft spots and identifying the correct depth to settle.
While it’s still early in the offseason, that weakness hasn’t been apparent in the spring.
“I think second year in the system, you even see more confidence,” Downing said of Douglas at minicamp. “But secondly, I would say he’s really doing a good job with decision-making routes. So, if there’s a decision to be made, whether it’s a choice route or a post or a cross, he’s making decisions quickly and correctly. And that’s a really valuable piece of this offense.”
If Douglas can carry that momentum into the regular season, New England could suddenly have a trio of skilled receivers capable of creating matchup issues for opposing secondaries.
