Continuing with my off-season look at the Roster heading into Training Camp. This week, I look at the Wide Receivers.
Wide Receivers
AJ Brown – This is going to be fun watching this guy. He is a dominating, alpha Wide Receiver. I can’t believe he has done the things he has already done in just two weeks on the team. His ability to adjust to a ball in flight is one of the things that has stood out to me. He is motivated to show that last year was a fluke and that it was the fault of Nick Sirianni and poor play of QB Jalen Hurts. Teams will not be able to load the box against the Patriots with their improved wide receiver room. Expect Brown to see a lot of double teams, freeing up single coverage on other Receivers.
Demario Douglas – This is a make-or-break season for Douglas. 2026 is his contract year, and he will be a Free Agent in 2027. He needs a good season to get that offer he is looking for. In Josh McDaniels’ offense, the slot receiver is very important, and Douglas could be a big contributor. Last season, Stefon Diggs took away a lot of snaps from Douglas. AJ Brown will be outside most of the time, but will also be in the slot. Romeo Doubs’ role is really unknown at this time, but I suspect he will also be on the outside. This Spring, Douglas has been the top receiver in terms of the number of receptions. One of the three WRs that are heading into their final year with the team will not make the team in 2026. Douglas versus Efton Chism will be a matchup to watch in Training Camp.
Kyle Williams – Williams showed progress over the course of the season. He started slowly, as most rookies do. For the season, he played in all 17 games, had 10 receptions on 21 targets for 209 yards, 20.9 YPC, and 3 TDs. The big play ability is there, and after learning the playbook and how to recognize the route adjustments he must make in the Josh McDaniels offense, he showed the glimmer of hope we all had when he was drafted. How does the acquisition of Brown and Doubs affect his development? The more important factor is what the Patriots do with Kayshon Boutte. If they keep Boutte, this could limit Williams’ snaps significantly and throttle his development.
In comparison, Williams had a better 1st year than Boutte, who only played 5 games with 7 Targets and 2 Receptions. As you might remember, Boutte was stuck in Bill Belichick’s doghouse for not getting two feet down on a sideline route. That is how Belichick treated rookies. Chad Graff stated in The Athletic, “With the Cougars, Williams shone as a deep-threat receiver. New to the position, his route running wasn’t polished, and he dealt with too many drops (he has small hands). But he used his exceptional straight-line speed (he ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash) to beat defenders. Williams was also excellent off the line of scrimmage and was able to get clean releases against top cornerbacks.” Graff highlighted Williams as one of the 10 intriguing players ahead of Training Camp.
Efton Chism – One of the big surprise Undrafted Free Agent signings last season, Chism flashed during Spring and Training Camp practices. He carried that over to in-game production late in Pre-Season games. This earned him a spot on the team’s 53-man roster out of camp. He was active for 8 games with 1 Start. Targeted only 3 times, he caught all three targets for 75 yards, 25.0 YPC, and 1TD. Chism is going to be on this team, and depending on how the battle of the three WRs with expiring contracts goes, Chism may have an expanded role. Late last season the Patriots used Chism as a Kickoff Returner. That was a disaster. He is way too slow for that role. Remember, he broke all of Cooper Kupp’s receiving records at Eastern Washington. He is a shifty, quick, elusive route runner who finds ways to get open. Think Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, and Danny Amendola when talking about Chism.
Mack Hollins – I have Mack Hollins as the odd man out in the Wide Receiver battle. Don’t get me wrong. I love what Mack Hollins brings to the team, but he is 32 years old and is in a contract year. He is not coming back next season, so why keep a roster spot for him over a 24-year-old that could still break out? Hollins is the ultimate professional and team player. Last season, he took Efton Chism under his wing early in training camp and went over plays nightly after practice with him, getting Chism ready to be an NFL player. Hollins is a very good blocker, utilizing his 6’4”, 221-pound frame. In the Super Bowl, Hollins had 4 catches for 78 yards and a TD with Diggs being double-teamed. Hollins is a character and a good guy in the clubhouse. I will never forget his impersonation of the movie scene from The Warriors, tinkling of the glass bottles on his fingers, and explaining “Warriors, come out and playyyeee!”
Jeremiah Webb – Webb made the Practice Squad last year as an UDFA. The 5’11”, 198-pound Receiver has 4.49 speed. His 2024 season at South Alabama saw him catch 36 passes for 649 yards and 5 TDs. He was originally signed by the Berlin Thunder and spent a month there before signing with the Patriots. He is a long shot to make the team and will be battling to retain his spot on the Practice Squad.
Romeo Doubs – Doubs was acquired in Free Agency. He was the best receiver in the Free Agency class once Alec Pierce resigned with Indianapolis. Last season, he had 46 Receptions on 83 Targets for 601 Yards, 13.1 YPC, and 4 TDs. Doubs missed 4 games last season, but by the end of the year, he was Green Bay’s top receiver. When AJ Brown was traded to the Patriots, that pushed Doubs down to a supporting role. This spring, Doubs has not made a good impression. Nothing he has done has been outstanding or made an impact. Again, this Spring has been a glorified passing camp, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s see what happens in Training Camp.
Cameron Dorner – Dorner was signed as an UDFA this season after completing his final season at North Texas State. The 6’1”, 188-pound wideout ran a disappointing 4.59 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. However, his 37” Vertical Jump, 6.96 3-Cone Drill, and 4.07 Short Shuttle were impressive. The 4.07 Short Shuttle would have been tied for the best overall at the Combine. Dorner played 3 years at DII Shepherd University before transferring to North Texas. Last season, he had 56 catches for 911 Yards and 8 TDs. One important note from Mandatory Mini-Camp was that Dorner was used as a Kickoff Returner. This point should be watched during Training Camp. If he can return kicks, he just might have a spot on the Practice Squad.
Nick DeGennaro – The James Madison UDFA is a long shot to make the team or Practice Squad. He seems like he is just a camp body. The 6’1”, 195-pound Receiver played at James Madison and helped them reach the College Playoffs. In 14 games, he had 28 Receptions for 500 Yards, 17.9 YPC, and 5 TDs.
Jimmy Kibble – Kibble eventually joined the Georgetown Hoyas in 2022, and over the next four years, saw action in 41 games with 29 starts. He was on the receiving end of 148 passes that he took for 2,593 yards — the fourth-most in school history — and 15 touchdowns. He led his team in receiving yards in each of his final three seasons. Kibble ended his college career as a one-time captain and three-time All-Patriot League selection (first team 2025; second team 2024 and 2023). The 6’ 199-pound receiver ran a 4.49 40-yard dash with a 7.05 3-Cone Drill. He will have a hard time making the team and will fight for a spot on the Practice Squad.
Kyle Dixon – Dixon received a large, guaranteed contract, which is equivalent to matching what a Practice Squad player would get over the course of the season. This pretty much guarantees he will at least make the Practice Squad unless claimed by another team at cutdown day. As of this writing, New England has reportedly guaranteed Dixon more than $250,000 immediately following the draft process. That is an aggressive financial commitment for an under-the-radar playmaker from an NAIA program. At the time, many viewed it as a curious gamble.
Clutch Points had this to say about Dixon: “After minicamp, it looks like a bargain. Dixon consistently dominated team drills with crisp routes and advanced body control near the sideline. Defensive backs repeatedly struggled to stay attached through his breaks because of how suddenly he changed direction. And in a Patriots receiver room still searching desperately for consistent separation and explosive playmaking, Dixon’s skill set immediately stands out.”
Kyle Dixon played college football at Culver–Stockton College (NAIA) from 2024 to 2025, earning two First-team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) honors.
Career at Culver–Stockton (2024–2025)
- Total games: 22
- Receptions: 143
- Receiving yards: 2,394
- Receiving touchdowns: 24
At 6’2”, 220-pounds the big Wide Receiver ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at his Pro Day before injuring his Quad. He was seen at OTAs working with the Training Staff on the lower fields.
Kayson Boutte – Kayshon Boutte has done nothing wrong to not be a member of this team this season. He, along with Pop Douglas and Mack Hollins, is in the final year of their contract. One of these three will not be on the team this year. Savage Sports reported, “He clearly understands the system and has looked solid throughout mandatory minicamp. Boutte has publicly stated that he wants to stay with the Patriots and loves it here. The team, however, has been shopping Kayshon for a while. They gauged interest before the NFL Draft and were unable to move him. They believe his skill set could be redundant, especially after signing Romeo Doubs and trading for AJ Brown.
At this point, many fans want to keep Boutte on the Patriots, and I understand that perspective. I still think Boutte gets traded at some point as we get closer to the season. There are many teams that could benefit from adding a veteran wide receiver. The issue is the compensation, and it sounds like the Patriots wouldn’t get much in return.” I believe keeping Boutte over Hollins would be the right thing to do. A 24- year-old vs a 32-year-old. Hollins is the better blocker, but Boutte’s ability on deep passes and his connection with Maye are the deciding factors. The Boutte/Hollins battle, along with the Douglas/Chism battle, will be what to watch during training camp
Gabe Jacas Story Takes Another Twist
Mike Reiss reported on Sunday that Gabe Jacas had knee surgery shortly after the draft. It appears the Patriots front office, coaching staff, and medical staff knew nothing about this “Cleanup Procedure”. The Patriots would not offer him a contract or a guarantee until after he had passed a physical. This situation is becoming unusual and much messier than it should ever have been. Jacas would not attend off-season workouts or meetings without some type of guarantee that the Patriots would pay him the equivalent of his drafted position should he get hurt in practice.
The Patriots wouldn’t give him that. Somewhere during the draft process or the spring, Jacas had a procedure on his knee, according to Reiss. We knew that Jacas was dealing with a lingering hamstring issue that wouldn’t allow him to participate in the combine. He did have a private Pro Day on April 2nd and ran a 4.68 40-yard dash, which was exactly as predicted. However, Mike Vrabel announced in a Press Conference that Jacas had a procedure. The question here is whether the Patriots knew that Jacas had this procedure, and if not, why he did not inform the team.
Savage Sports said, “Reiss also reported this morning that Jacas has not been in the building because the Patriots have not offered him a good-faith assurance that if he were injured at camp, his contract would still be signed with guarantees. The Patriots are not happy with Gabe Jacas. They are not happy that this knee procedure was undisclosed, and they are not happy that he is currently missing voluntary activities and mandatory minicamp.”
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
Jacas – thanks for that fine detail regards the undisclosed surgery need. That is not good. I poo-poo’d the media saying EDGE is understaffed when Landy, Jacas, Dre’mont Jones and Ponder are on board. Lots of players are in recovery from last seasons injuries this time of year… so no big deal. IE. there’s no game Sunday vs SEA. But this is a bit different with the undisclosed medical issue. So again thanks. The WR room is fascinating in that the top WR1, 2 in Doubs, AJ Brown can both play outside or inside. So, if the Pats want to… Read more »