2025 WR Depth Chart

[The Gr8est]

I've change my tune on the WR room after the draft and really picturing how things will do in the off season.

My 6 WRs going into the year are...

Diggs (Everyone is saying he is on track to start week 1... so i will go with that)
Williams
Hollins (He has too many things he does for this team which are special and different.... good STer, size, run blocking, locker room guy)
Douglas
Boutte
Chism

Cut: Bourne, Polk, Baker.... (Unless Boutte is traded.... but i don't think they just plain cut him... but they may look to get value, and i'd be okay with that. He has too much value just to cut though).

Diggs will likely not see any preseason action... maybe the final game but very limited. Everyone is saying he is on track to start week 1... so i will go with that.
Williams is a lock, no question. And i think he slides right into the #2 role very quickly... his ability to separate and get off the line is already elite even at the NFL level.
Hollins has too many things he does for this team which are special and different.... good STer, size, run blocking, locker room guy. Also his contract makes clear how they value those things... he's in and will see reps on running downs and probably red zone.
Douglas will start and be kept as the slot guy. Only Chism can steal this role, and he won't be ready to take it from him week 1... plus 2 slot guys isn't bad due to injury possiblities.
Boutte is either trading or making this team. I think they will look to move him and while he was too valuable to move before the draft due to contract, age and upside... that isn't 100% the case now. Though it be nice to have him around for when Diggs finally walks.
Chism is making the 53... I've been going over it in my mind, and i just don't think he can be cut if they want to keep him, and they will. He can return kicks and punts. And i think like Edelman he will instantly pop in preseason just like Edelman did. His game will translate very quickly. I think if they put him on the waiver wire they lose him and probably never get him back. So he forces their hand.

I've said before it seems very unlikely for this team to cut Polk... (Baker was much more possible) due to his pick if he shows anything. Now that isn't the case. He can't just show a little something and hint at future possibility. He needs to ball and show not just maybe this year he will start to live up to his potential a bit eventually. He needs to show he can start living up to it week 1. If he does, they move Boutte even if not good value trade. Bourne is a cap casuality.

Unfortunately this means a 7.2M dead cap hit. But it's just the cost of doing business and why it is so important to not sign bad contracts or miss on drafted players in the first 2 rounds. And i think Polk hasa great chance to find his way on our PS anyway.. hope he does.

We had people in the draft threads calling for more WRs to be drafted.

Now to be fair, they didn’t have Chism yet, but as your post and others show, we are running out of room at the inn.

 

[Steve102]

Comparing any of these guys to Wes is laughable. But your ignoring that Hollins is old and Wes was stepping into his prime.

I'll take Reche from any of the lot. And that's why none of them are a lock (not including Diggs, Pop, and Williams).

Settle down. I am not comparing any of the guys to Wes, you know that. I am comparing the situation of acquiring Wes over Reche. They have a WR room full of guys who think they can play, who really can't. Entitlement runs rampant. With Baker and Polk, that may or may not be their fault. They may not have received any coaching to speak of last season. There are teams in the NFL that Boutte can't get on the field with. Bourne is a WR4 on a lot of teams. Hollins is a tone setter, that's why they got him. He's not going to set the world on fire, but if he brings some nastiness and a proper freakin' work ethic, then maybe these brats can get their heads out of their collective asses and play.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

And I don't see how anyone can consider Hollins competing with an UDFA for a roster spot

And I don't see how anyone can consider Hollins competing with a 6' tall WR for a roster spot. No 6' tall WR is going to be an outside X receiver and win jump balls or be a red zone threat.

Sorry @PatsFan2 but I am right and you are wrong like always. Just saying the truth.

 

[scott99]

Hollins is our only BIG receiver, he’ll help out in the red zone, as well as he provides special teams play. McDaniels likes him, had his best year ever under McDaniels. He was second in receptions with 57, second in receiving yards with 690 yards, and second in TD catches with 4.

 

[signbabybrady]

Settle down. I am not comparing any of the guys to Wes, you know that. I am comparing the situation of acquiring Wes over Reche. They have a WR room full of guys who think they can play, who really can't. Entitlement runs rampant. With Baker and Polk, that may or may not be their fault. They may not have received any coaching to speak of last season. There are teams in the NFL that Boutte can't get on the field with. Bourne is a WR4 on a lot of teams. Hollins is a tone setter, that's why they got him. He's not going to set the world on fire, but if he brings some nastiness and a proper freakin' work ethic, then maybe these brats can get their heads out of their collective asses and play.

I think there is a good chance all of the below winds up true:

Bourne's best days are behind him and possibly way behind.

Boutte may have been a bit of Mirage last year and just the best amongst a trash heap.

Polk may have been broken.

Baker may have been broken.

But again if two of these things work out in our favor than Hollins may have a tough time making it or maybe his STs leads us to 6 WRs.

 

[Steve102]

I think there is a good chance all of the below winds up true:

Bourne's best days are behind him and possibly way behind.

Boutte may have been a bit of Mirage last year and just the best amongst a trash heap.

Polk may have been broken.

Baker may have been broken.

But again if two of these things work out in our favor than Hollins may have a tough time making it or maybe his STs leads us to 6 WRs.

They'll carry 6 WRs is my guess.

 

[Real fan 02]

Mack Hollins claim to fame was a doctored pictured online that made him looked jacked. He was the 4th guy in Buffalo who doesn't have any world beaters at WR or TE. The coaches will want Williams, Polk and Baker to kick him off the roster.

He's 2019 Maurice Harris/Bruce Ellington/Cameron Meredith = camp body.

Yep! 2 years at 8 million. Feels like camp/cuttable contract to me.

 

[dliverey44]

I do hear your point. But it's too soon to give up on him. Let's see what camp brings.. if it appears he won't make the cut then decide then... Polk was the best WR all Last training camp... to end up where he is now is just odd.

I think that the Polk is trash narrative is a bit much. I think he was a reach in the 30's last year, but he is talented and was expected to be the savior last year under a ****ty coaching environment. Dude was under a tremendous amount of pressure, so I was glad to hear that everyone is getting a clean slate because I think he can be a productive member of the team.

 

[Wozzy]

The Hollins obsession from some is entertaining. I don't see how anyone can consider him a lock. He's competing with Polk, Baker, Bourne, Boutte and a couple of undrafted players for 2 spots maybe 3 if someone uses an IR or pup spot.

These guys think we keep 5 and get rid of 2 (hint they don't even mention Hollins name).

They "predicted that the Patriots will keep Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, and Ja'Lynn Polk meaning that Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker do not make the cut."

Agree here, if Hollins forces his way onto the roster it’s entirely because McDaniels likes him (nepotism) and probably at the expense of someone better. He’s not a good athlete, he’s tall, he plays special teams and joining a team with among the best special teams in the AFC.

Being quirky, hip and because your teammates like you shouldn’t be a reason to make a roster… you should actually be good at football.

 

[Wozzy]

I think that the Polk is trash narrative is a bit much. I think he was a reach in the 30's last year, but he is talented and was expected to be the savior last year under a ****ty coaching environment. Dude was under a tremendous amount of pressure, so I was glad to hear that everyone is getting a clean slate because I think he can be a productive member of the team.

Pressure… what rookie isn’t?

He’s trash until he proves he isn’t.

 

[JohnJH]

Barring an injury, I have a feeling that Efron Chism III makes the 53 Roster. I'm calling my shot now. I also see Lampe (if they want a true FB), Dippre (#3 TE), and Larison staying with the team.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I didn't see the pressure you speak of, and catching only 12 balls all year should put his nuts in a vice THIS Year.

I give that clown and his Dimwit partner enough rope to hang each other....dual nooses .. Run Mothafkr!

 

[JohnJH]

And I don't see how anyone can consider Hollins competing with a 6' tall WR for a roster spot. No 6' tall WR is going to be an outside X receiver and win jump balls or be a red zone threat.

Sorry @PatsFan2 but I am right and you are wrong like always. Just saying the truth.

I see Hollins as primarily a ST Player and "Break glass in-case of emergency" WR.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I see Hollins as primarily a ST Player and "Break glass in-case of emergency" WR.

Hollins used to play for Josh McD and was the first FA receiver the Pats signed. You think McD, who was hired as the offensive coordinator, placed a top priority on signing someone who would be a ST player and used as an emergency WR? McD's primary vision was to sign fringe players that might not make the team?

 

[dliverey44]

I don't understand the Booty hatred, he made a huge jump in year 2 and had a good connection with Maye. There were several games that Pop and Bourne were in the wrong spots (wrong route/didn't sit in Zone). I do not remember that being said as much about Booty. Could be I am misremembering because Booty is a binky. He also had the most explosive plays of Pats WRs and I understand that being the good piece in a **** room is not a flex, but he could build on his progress and it seems that people are completely discounting him.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I don't understand the Booty hatred, he made a huge jump in year 2 and had a good connection with Maye. There were several games that Pop and Bourne were in the wrong spots (wrong route/didn't sit in Zone). I do not remember that being said as much about Booty. Could be I am misremembering because Booty is a binky. He also had the most explosive plays of Pats WRs and I understand that being the good piece in a **** room is not a flex, but he could build on his progress and it seems that people are completely discounting him.

I don't think there is any Boutte hatred. I think Boutte tries, and he is a good overall WR, but there is nothing special about him. Small size, average speed, average quickness, no separation, and not an exceptional route runner (good but not great). So what is there to get excited about?

Williams is small like Boutte but has an amazing release with great acceleration to create separation. Williams was a R3 pick, so we are hopeful the new Pats can pick a couple more special WRs, similar to Williams but different, going forward to fill out a WR group with exceptional traits. Boutte is very average in every way and we hope to upgrade.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

We have a numbers issue at WR. We already had 4-5 decent/interesting receivers in Boutte, Pop, Bourne, Polk & Baker, then went out and acquired Diggs, Hollins, Williams, and Chism. That’s 9, which is 3 too many.

Baker could maybe sneak onto the PS, I don’t think Chism or anyone else would. Maybe Diggs spends September on pup while getting back to 100%. Then you’d have one to cut or trade now, and another to cut or trade in October.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We have a numbers issue at WR. We already had 4-5 decent/interesting receivers in Boutte, Pop, Bourne, Polk & Baker, then went out and acquired Diggs, Hollins, Williams, and Chism. That’s 9, which is 3 too many.

Baker could maybe sneak onto the PS, I don’t think Chism or anyone else would. Maybe Diggs spends September on pup while getting back to 100%. Then you’d have one to cut or trade now, and another to cut or trade in October.

Chism is 5'10" (small), is a UDFA, ran a 4.71 40 (slow), and won't make it to the PS? No one picked him in the draft and 1 week later we are convinced a team wants him on their 53 man roster? If that is the case, why didn't teams pick Chism in R6 or R7?

 

[signbabybrady]

Barring an injury, I have a feeling that Efron Chism III makes the 53 Roster. I'm calling my shot now. I also see Lampe (if they want a true FB), Dippre (#3 TE), and Larison staying with the team.

I hear Larison likes to wrestle cows for fun

 

[PatsFan2]

Chism is 5'10" (small), is a UDFA, ran a 4.71 40 (slow), and won't make it to the PS? No one picked him in the draft and 1 week later we are convinced a team wants him on their 53 man roster? If that is the case, why didn't teams pick Chism in R6 or R7?

Restrepo went Undrafted too not a surprise to me: I wasn't impressed with his tape. That said Chism had a much better tape looks more agile. It's going' to be interesting to see how these UDFA's careers pan out: I'm betting on Chism.