Pats Pulpit
Patriots training camp is set to begin on Tuesday, July 23.
New England Patriots rookies and veterans will soon report back to Gillette Stadium as training camp is set to kick off. For the now Mike Vrabel-led Patriots, their first practice of the summer will begin on Wednesday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Before the players and coaches take the field, our preview series will continue with New England’s wide receiver position.
*Denotes player on the Pats Pulpit 53-man roster projection
Starters: Stefon Diggs*, Kayshon Boutte*, DeMario Douglas*, Kendrick Bourne* | Backups: Mack Hollins*, Kyle Williams* (R), Efton Chism III* (U-R), Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, DeMeer Blankumsee (U-R), John Jiles, Jeremiah Webb (U-R)
Following a season in which the Patriots wide receivers ranked last in the NFL in receiving yards (1,718), the team made an effort to increase the pass catching talent around quarterback Drake Maye. The biggest investment came in the form of four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs, who signed a three-year deal over two weeks into free agency.
The 31-year-old Diggs is coming off a torn ACL, however, which leaves question marks about whether he can still be a true difference maker along the outside.
In addition to Diggs, New England also signed veteran Mack Hollins and drafted Kyle Williams in the third round of this year’s draft. Those three along with DeMario Douglas, who was the team’s best receiver throughout the spring, currently project to form the team’s four ‘roster locks’ at the position.
That leaves five projected wide receivers to battle for one-to-three roster spots depending on health and the final roster bubble on the 53-man team. That group is led by Kendrick Bourne, who posted a career-high 925 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns under Josh McDaniels’ watch in 2021. While Bourne’s success in this scheme is noteworthy — and he repped with the top unit with Diggs sidelined this spring — the soon-to-be 30-year-old does have a skillset that overlaps with younger options.
Kayshon Boutte also saw plenty of time with Maye this spring as the team’s top X-receiver, but heard his name in trade rumors this offseason. The 23-year-old posted nearly 600 yards last year as he became the lone downfield option for Maye, but could find his name back in trade talks with a healthy Diggs and Hollins and a strong summer from Williams.
New England also has a pair of sophomore receivers who could find themselves on the outside-looking-in after disappointing rookie seasons. While the blame does not solely fall all on Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, the duo combined for just 13 catches (12 from Polk) and struggled from the mental side of things. Polk then spent this spring limited after offseason shoulder surgery.
To wrap up the group, undrafted free agent Efton Chism III was the standout of the spring hauling in 15 receptions over five open practices. He fits the mold of a typical McDaniels slot receiver due to his quick-twitch movements and route running...
