The New England Patriots have already seen some big turnover at wide receiver since their Super Bowl loss (OUT: Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte - IN: A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs), but their current receiving corps is incredibly deep and is their best in at least a handful of years (at least since the Tom Brady era, for sure).
We haven't seen exactly how they will play together on the field yet, but on paper, there is a lot to be excited about regarding New England's receiving room. And despite Brown and Doubs being the highlights, DeMario Douglas deserves a lot of love, too.
Douglas has been in New England since the team drafted him in the sixth round in 2023. He quickly became a fan favorite because of his underdog story and playstyle, and he brings a lot to the table because of his versatility. The Florida native can play in the slot (which he likely will do a lot of this season), but he has also proven to be a good deep threat (see: this should've-been-a-touchdown against the New Orleans Saints last year).
As things stand, Douglas is entering the final year of his contract, and while the Patriots have bigger priorities right now (i.e., signing Christian Gonzalez to a new deal), they need to ensure that he also sticks around for the long haul.
Patriots should extend DeMario Douglas after Kayshon Boutte trade
New England likely had a few different reasons to trade Boutte to the Houston Texans, but the fact that he is also on an expiring contract (and they were never going to pay him the money he wanted) probably played the biggest role.
Regardless of whether you agree with the team's decision to trade Boutte or not, the fact of the matter is that it happened. And now, they have another reason to use some of that money they chose not to give Boutte to give to Douglas instead.
The 25-year-old won't be as costly to keep around, and he is also an important part of the Patriots' offense. He is likely going to be their go-to slot receiver moving forward, which is probably the best role for him because of his quickness, hands, and 5-foot-8 frame.
In 17 games as a non-starter last year, Douglas recorded 31 receptions on 46 targets for 447 yards and three touchdowns (he also recorded five receptions and 45 yards in the Super Bowl). This was statistically the worst campaign of his young NFL career, but he also played in just 26% of the team's snaps (55% and 62% in his first two years, respectively). He was still very efficient and made an impact when he was on the field.
With the Diggs and Boutte departures, as well as his familiarity with Drake Maye and Josh McDaniels, Douglas should be right back to having a bigger role in New England's offense.
And the team should lock him up before his price gets a little too high for their comfort.
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