Why not 7 WR's on the opening day roster?

[TommyD4207]

I think your WRs going into the season are: Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams, DeGennaro.

If they're actually looking for a trade for Boutte, or there's an injury or something, maybe Douglas makes the team, but really, that's the list to me. I'd be surprised if it were something different.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

C J Dippre, a blocking tight end, and Efton Chism III have a 40 yard foot race. Who wins?

Who cares?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The Playbook, the playbook, the playbook. Whomever WR who has the greatest knowledge of the playbook stays on the field other than Brown. Jules said it took him years to figure it out. We need synchronization not Willie Nilly. Drake is improving and does not need dead wood in the reciever room. Boutte's in for me. I'm most worried about my bottom 4. Doubs, Williams, Pop and Hollins. Chism is special teams. Need a slot receiver with 10 catches per game avg. Still would bring Diggs back and he'd be our best slot receiver right now!

I think your WRs going into the season are: Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams, DeGennaro.

If they're actually looking for a trade for Boutte, or there's an injury or something, maybe Douglas makes the team, but really, that's the list to me. I'd be surprised if it were something different.

You are definitely going out on thin limb with DeGennaro.
I know he’s your boy and you’re pulling for him, but it would a huge surprise if he made the team over Pop and Chism, especially Pop.

 

[TommyD4207]

You are definitely going out on thin limb with DeGennaro.
I know he’s your boy and you’re pulling for him, but it would a huge surprise if he made the team over Pop and Chism, especially Pop.

I think it's between him and Douglas. Chism is dead-man walking. Douglas is still getting the reps, we'll see how long that continues for - camp is young. Maybe they try to hide DeGennaro on the PS, and start the season with Douglas as the 6th guy. Impossible to say before they've even played in relative anger yet - but, while I get Chism is a binky to many, he's too slow to play in the NFL consistently. I'm not questioning his 'heart' or whatever, but he's so demonstrably slow.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

He's already here. And he doesn't run like he's in cement.

I'm a lot more impressed by NFL film than college... that being the proof that Nick DeGennaro is a must-keep is just peculiar to me. Seriously, you're penciling him in, in a crowded field? Did I miss the spectacular camp he's having? What's a Nick DeGennaro? Why?

 

[PatsFanInVa]

You are definitely going out on thin limb with DeGennaro.
I know he’s your boy and you’re pulling for him, but it would a huge surprise if he made the team over Pop and Chism, especially Pop.

Jinx you owe me a coke

 

[TommyD4207]

I'm a lot more impressed by NFL film than college... that being the proof that Nick DeGennaro is a must-keep is just peculiar to me. Seriously, you're penciling him in, in a crowded field? Did I miss the spectacular camp he's having? What's a Nick DeGennaro? Why?

Well, he actually has to play in the NFL to have NFL film.

They haven't even played a game yet - you'll see what I'm talking about when he gets the opportunity, at least I think so. He's a classic Edelman/Brown-type slot.

Also, apparently there are a lot of people here much higher on Efton Chism than I am.

 

[Gumby]

He's already here. And he doesn't run like he's in cement.

Nice WR pass trick play. Always fun to have a guy who can throw an extra wrinkle like Edeldude as ex-QB.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Well, he actually has to play in the NFL to have NFL film.

They haven't even played a game yet - you'll see what I'm talking about when he gets the opportunity, at least I think so. He's a classic Edelman/Brown-type slot.

Also, apparently there are a lot of people here much higher on Efton Chism than I am.

I’m not high on Chism per se.
He is woefully slow returning punts 100%.
I thought be looked better / faster running routes last year than returning kicks.
I know nothing about your guy other than few mentions at camp, and reading his scouting report.
He seems to have legit long speed and down the field capability from what I read and what he’s demonstrated thus far.
Most certainly not rooting against him, but it would be quite a development if the team chose him over Pop.
May the best man win.

 

[n1997y]

C J Dippre, a blocking tight end, and Efton Chism III have a 40 yard foot race. Who wins?

Who cares?

Will anybody remember it’s a race by the time they finish?

 

[jmt57]

Looks like a Globe writer has been perusing the Pats Fans® forum for ideas:

Could Mike Vrabel keep 7 wide receivers on Patriots’ roster?

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said he has no issue with the team rolling with seven wide receivers to open the year.

www.boston.com

By Conor Ryan

August 7, 2026 | 1:28 PM

FOXBOROUGH — Something presumably has to give with New England’s wide-receiver room. ​

​

While New England should receive a significant boost with the addition of two talented pass-catchers in A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, there’s only so many hands to go around when it comes to reeling in passes from Drake Maye.​

​

For now, New England seemingly has seven wideouts in play for the 53-man roster: Brown, Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. ​

​

It’s not unheard of for NFL teams to carry seven wideouts once the regular season begins. But there are several other areas of New England’s depth chart that could use the extra body that New England would be allocating to the wideout room if it keeps that personnel intact. ​

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Looks like a Globe writer has been perusing the Pats Fans® forum for ideas:

Could Mike Vrabel keep 7 wide receivers on Patriots’ roster?

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said he has no issue with the team rolling with seven wide receivers to open the year.

www.boston.com

By Conor Ryan

I think his [Vrabel's] final line was the most important:

“I can go back to when I played here and showed up and there was eight linebackers that had all started for teams the previous year, and nobody asked a whole lot of questions. It was just practice your ass off and earn a role.”

 

[Family]

Looks like a Globe writer has been perusing the Pats Fans® forum for ideas:

Could Mike Vrabel keep 7 wide receivers on Patriots’ roster?

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said he has no issue with the team rolling with seven wide receivers to open the year.

www.boston.com

By Conor Ryan

August 7, 2026 | 1:28 PM

FOXBOROUGH — Something presumably has to give with New England’s wide-receiver room. ​

​

While New England should receive a significant boost with the addition of two talented pass-catchers in A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, there’s only so many hands to go around when it comes to reeling in passes from Drake Maye.​

​

For now, New England seemingly has seven wideouts in play for the 53-man roster: Brown, Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. ​

​

It’s not unheard of for NFL teams to carry seven wideouts once the regular season begins. But there are several other areas of New England’s depth chart that could use the extra body that New England would be allocating to the wideout room if it keeps that personnel intact. ​

It's actually less likely IMO with the offensive guard issues.

Originally I thought the team could get away with 9 OL with Ben Brown backing up both guard and center, but that seems less likely now.

 

[jmt57]

It's actually less likely IMO with the offensive guard issues.

Originally I thought the team could get away with 9 OL with Ben Brown backing up both guard and center, but that seems less likely now.

A few months back I recall Vrabel saying 'you can never have too many tackles', or words to that effect.

Seems now that has shifted to you can never have enough guards.

The Chargers signed Cole Strange, but Sidy Sow is an available free agent. . .

 

[Family]

A few months back I recall Vrabel saying 'you can never have too many tackles', or words to that effect.

Currently once you get past the starters they couldn't have less guards

 

[Wozzy]

Currently once you get past the starters they couldn't have less guards

Lomu can likely play guard at a high level.

 

[n1997y]

Lomu can likely play guard at a high level.

First he should show he can play tackle at a high level.

So far reports are saying he hasn’t showed he can play anything at a high level.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

First he should show he can play tackle at a high level.

So far reports are saying he hasn’t showed he can play anything at a high level.

The most likely outcome for Lomu was always a backup for this year.
No need to make rash judgments after a week and half of his first TC.

 

[n1997y]

The most likely outcome for Lomu was always a backup for this year.
No need to make rash judgments after a week and half of his first TC.

I’m not. Just pointing out that it’s overly optimistic to be saying he’ll backup the guards when so far he hasn’t shown well at his normal tackle position. He may not even be our top backup at tackle, or might be limited to just RT with Bryant at LT. And that’s only if he can beat out Crownover at RT. In any case way too early to be saying he’s 5he solution for our need to have a backup at guard.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I’m not. Just pointing out that it’s overly optimistic to be saying he’ll backup the guards when so far he hasn’t shown well at his normal tackle position. He may not even be our top backup at tackle, or might be limited to just RT with Bryant at LT. And that’s only if he can beat out Crownover at RT. In any case way too early to be saying he’s 5he solution for our need to have a backup at guard.

That's fair.
Big athletic kid, I'm sure he could play some OG with some more reps.