DeMario Douglas is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, but he's making a great case to the New England Patriots' front office that he deserves to stick around for a little while longer.
Douglas had a slow start to the season (nine receptions on 17 targets, 82 receiving yards, no touchdowns through his first four games), but he has come alive in recent games, and he has stepped up with Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs being on the injured reserve and A.J. Brown being injured/disappointing.
In his last four games, the Jacksonville native has caught 17 of his 20 targets for 250 yards and four touchdowns.
The Patriots have relied on Douglas a lot more after their injuries to the receiving corps, and he is showing that he can be incredibly valuable to their success moving forward. There's a lot of football left, but right now, it's going to be tough for New England to justify not keeping him around past this season.
DeMario Douglas is a great asset to Drake Maye and the Patriots
This last month or so from Douglas has probably been the best football he has played at the NFL level, especially considering he has more or less been New England's No. 1 receiver. He's doing a great job of getting open on short, medium, and deep routes, and he's also doing a lot more work with the ball after the catch.
Douglas is starting to show off more of his shiftiness (see: his 48-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8), and he is continuing to look even more comfortable this season. He has long been incredibly versatile (can line up anywhere on the field, can run all types of routes, and has been used on end arounds and jet sweeps in the past), and he's further proving why he's a good fit in Josh McDaniels' system.
It's also clear that Drake Maye trusts Douglas, and that's important for the Patriots to keep in mind. They already moved on from two of his favorite targets this past offseason in Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. Hunter Henry and Hollins aren't getting any younger, and we still have no clue what's happening or what will happen with Brown moving forward.
The "favorite receiver for Maye to throw to" sweepstakes are very much alive, and Douglas might end up winning it when it's all said and done. He is turning just 26 years old in December, and he is someone who has helped New England succeed in the past, is helping it succeed now, and should help it succeed moving forward.
It shouldn't be that much of a debate: the Patriots should re-sign Douglas in the offseason.
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