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

[Family]

Not sure Bryant or Wallace were necessarily kept because they liked them more so than there was no one else at the position that didn’t suck. They would have sent them packing if they have a real nfl caliber player to keep instead.

They won't have a real NFL caliber player at the bottom of the roster this year either.

It will be some Hudson, Rupcich, Westover who would replace the developmental roster player.

 

[Wozzy]

No, I don’t think they’ll ruin him, because I don’t think they’ll take your advice. That’s what would ruin him.

Hopefully he will improve. When he does it might be worth taking a look at him at backup guard, depending on how that needs to be stands by then. But for now let him focus on one thing, his traditional position.

On game day they'll activate the best players they have, I suspect Lomu will be one of them.

 

[Wozzy]

The 3 WRs in the base offense are Brown, Doubs, Boutte.

That's not even happening in camp right now based on real time tweets.

It's Brown, Doubs and Douglas.

Boutte is the next man up on the outside when Brown or Doubs goes out.

 

[Family]

Boutte already skipped offseason workouts and supposedly said he wanted to be traded. That wasn't my imagination.

It's what's happening now that matters. There is no problem. Many players sit voluntary workouts, and it never amounts to anything.

They'll get what they can get before the cutdown to 53. Assuming the WR is as deep as it seems now then they won't wait for the season. The entire point is to get down to 53 with the best group possible.

As deep as the WR group is, we still can not count on Williams/Chism as regular NFL receivers. We can recognize potential, but they've proven nothing.

I want 5 proven options.

 

[Zuma]

X - Brown, Williams
Y - Douglas, Hollins
Z - Boutte, Doubs

 

[Ring 6]

They won't have a real NFL caliber player at the bottom of the roster this year either.

It will be some Hudson, Rupcich, Westover who would replace the developmental roster player.

Not that it comes down to those players but they are players with NFL experience

 

[Wozzy]

It's what's happening now that matters. There is no problem. Many players sit voluntary workouts, and it never amounts to anything.

He wants a contract and the opportunity to play. You Boutte truthers seem to ignore this.

As deep as the WR group is, we still can not count on Williams/Chism as regular NFL receivers. We can recognize potential, but they've proven nothing.

It's year two, both were part of the WR room last year. Williams showed he was a big play waiting to happen, Chism has done nothing but catch every ball thrown his way and do what the team asked of him.

I want 5 proven options.

Younger, better, cheaper players need opportunities to prove they've reliable.

All this hemming and hawing is fine, but the reality is barring injury they probably have too many good WR's.

Boutte wants a new contract, feelings aren't important.

 

[Zuma]

With Hollins as #4 and Williams as a developmental WR who is OK as our #5 WR (even if he almost never plays).
===============================
I see no reason to use a roster spot on a 6th WR, unless the staff really want a 2nd developmental WR because Williams has shown almost nothing yet (which is OK since WR's often take a 2nd year to develop working for Josh).

If the team keeps 6 then it's probably Williams. The 6th WR is a development guy anyway.

 

[n1997y]

He wants a contract and the opportunity to play. You Boutte truthers seem to ignore this.

It's year two, both were part of the WR room last year. Williams showed he was a big play waiting to happen, Chism has done nothing but catch every ball thrown his way and do what the team asked of him.

Both true. And Boutte was ahead of both of them last year, and has outplayed them in camp every day this year.

Younger, better, cheaper players need opportunities to prove they've reliable.

Yep. And that’s tough when there are more young hungry players than there are slots for them. Boutte’s just another in that crowd.

All this hemming and hawing is fine, but the reality is barring injury they probably definitely have too many good WR's.

FIFY

Boutte wants a new contract, feelings aren't important.

Team wants to put the best WRs on the field. Boutte’s feelings aren’t important. He’ll play to his contract and do his best to earn a big payday, elsewhere or here if he has to.

 

[Wozzy]

Both true. And Boutte was ahead of both of them last year, and has outplayed them in camp every day this year.

I expect Boutte to make plays, he and Drake have a strong connection. He's a good WR.

It doesn't mean there isn't a better, faster, cheaper option sitting behind him waiting for his snaps.

Yep. And that’s tough when there are more young hungry players than there are slots for them. Boutte’s just another in that crowd.

FIFY

Team wants to put the best WRs on the field. Boutte’s feelings aren’t important. He’ll play to his contract and do his best to earn a big payday, elsewhere or here if he has to.

He wants a new contract. That doesn't go away because of a piece of paper.

They didn't pay Malcolm Butler and he dogged it, Jamie Collins was calling his own blitzes and doing whatever he wanted. It doesn't mean Boutte would do something similar, but also nobody wants a sour **** around when a SB is the goal.

Just saying he should be a robot because he is under contract isn't realistic. Especially if they do what you want, and play him a lot of snaps, no vet wants to risk his neck with no guaranteed money.

 

[mgteich]

I'm unclear what you mean from 5 on, but agree with the first four.

So how may WR's?

5 if Boutte stays, otherwise 6 including Chism.

 

[TommyD4207]

And there's the caveat.
Pop won't be beat out in camp by Chism, DeG, or any of the other WRs currently below him.
He's easily one of our 6 best WRs.
Contract considerations are always factor, and yes he would be an easy trade from that perspective.
But we are simply not a better team in 2026 without him.
So there's the rub, do you trade a guy for a minimal return because you have too many resources even though it sets you back on the field for 2026?
People can make fun of him tripping over his feet all they want, we are a better team with him on the roster than Chism, DeG, or whatever name you want to insert from our current Botton WRs.
IMO you keep Brown, Boutte, Pop, Doubs, KW and Mac and roll the dice with Chrism and DeG on the PS.
You can certainly make a case for trading Pop or Boutte, but again, there is zero % chance that makes us better in 2026 on the field.
We have legit SB hopes, injuries happen, I hope we keep the 6 mentioned and continue to develop Chism and DeG on the PS with call-ups as necessary.
And let's remember, a player isn't actually claimed off the PS.
He is offered a contract by another team, and he has every right to decline.

I don't want to trade anyone until I see them on the field.

 

[mgteich]

I don't want to trade anyone until I see them on the field.

Would Chism looking good against backups convince you that he is a future star? We have a Chism almost every year.

 

[TommyD4207]

Younger, better, cheaper players need opportunities to prove they've reliable.

All this hemming and hawing is fine, but the reality is barring injury they probably have too many good WR's.

Boutte wants a new contract, feelings aren't important.

This is true.
I will say, remember in your analysis, that Boutte just turned 24 a couple of months ago, and makes the same money Douglas does.

 

[TommyD4207]

Would Chism looking good against backups convince you that he is a future star? We have a Chism almost every year.

I saw a whole year of Efton Chism. Unless he's suddenly fast, I'm not particularly interested in keeping him.

It's not up to me, of course.

 

[mgteich]

I expect Boutte to make plays, he and Drake have a strong connection. He's a good WR.

It doesn't mean there isn't a better, faster, cheaper option sitting behind him waiting for his snaps.

If Boutte is on the team, it will INDEED mean that there are NOT better, faster cheaper options on the squad.

Who did you have in mind?

 

[Wozzy]

This is true.
I will say, remember in your analysis, that Boutte just turned 24 a couple of months ago, and makes the same money Douglas does.

This is true, but Douglas has a unique skillset in the slot.

They’ll have to either extend Douglas or move on to Chism or someone else.

 

[JoeSixPat]

X - Brown, Williams
Y - Douglas, Hollins
Z - Boutte, Doubs

Given Doubs diverse skills I have a feeling we're going to see Josh having him run X, Y and Z routes almost regardless of where he lines up

To me that creates a situation where you have Brown, Doubs and Boutte on the field at the same time, which makes a lot of sense since that's our 3 best WRs

Hollins has lined up inside and outside of the slot during camp as well, giving him the ability to be used as a quasi TE, as he's a great blocker too

Let's not forget that Josh has actually used Hollins as a TE during his time with the Raiders

All of this could really confound opposing Ds, given that we've ALSO got Stevenson as a major receiving threat and the fact that Maye himself can run for 10 yards easy when the situation presents itself or requires it

But a lot comes down to what Doubs brings to the table, especially when Ds will be focused on Brown

 

[Zuma]

Given Doubs diverse skills I have a feeling we're going to see Josh having him run X, Y and Z routes almost regardless of where he lines up

To me that creates a situation where you have Brown, Doubs and Boutte on the field at the same time, which makes a lot of sense since that's our 3 best WRs

Hollins has lined up inside and outside of the slot during camp as well, giving him the ability to be used as a quasi TE, as he's a great blocker too

Let's not forget that Josh has actually used Hollins as a TE during his time with the Raiders

All of this could really confound opposing Ds, given that we've ALSO got Stevenson as a major receiving threat and the fact that Maye himself can run for 10 yards easy when the situation presents itself or requires it

But a lot comes down to what Doubs brings to the table, especially when Ds will be focused on Brown

You could be right however the boys at Patriots Unfiltered (especially Lazar) see that Josh has been running Doubs at Y through the camps and feel one of the reasons he is slow to pickup the offense is because his type of game is not best suited for the slot. They think he’s not as cerebral as others that have played there. Regarding X and Z, I could see him and Brown swapping sides from time to time for sure.

I originally thought the same as you with Brown, Doubs and Boutte on the field at the same time but perhaps Doubs isn’t the best fit for slot. Boutte at X, Brown at Y and Doubs at Z could work. We’ll see.

 

[jdlboot14]

It may not be as the team designed it, but as of this moment, the top 3 WR's on the field in wk 1 will be:
Brown, Boutte, Douglas.
The reason is - Doubs hasn't shown complete enough understanding of the offense yet, nor chemistry with Maye to be the #2.
And with how Pop has been playing in camp, and the growth he's had with Maye in now - their 3rd year together - he can't be supplanted just because of Doubs FA $$. And Pop may be finally understanding the JMD slot WR role, which could be critical for this offense to get faster and control the TOP like they like to do.
Caveat - I expect to see a lot of WR rotation though, to use formations and mis-matches with Hollins & Doubs. And it seems KW is going to have to make the most of his ~8snaps per game to start the season.