Pro Football Rumors
The Patriots finally completed their long-awaited acquisition of A.J. Brown last month, and the veteran WR will immediately slide into the top of the depth chart in New England. While the organization is naturally excited about what the acquisition will bring to the offense, the team will now have to navigate a logjam at the position.
At the moment, the Patriots currently have seven wide receivers who are deserving of roster spots: Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. Generally, teams only carry six WRs during the regular season. New England is no exception. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes, the last time New England carries seven wideouts was 2007, when the team rostered Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Donte’ Stallworth, Troy Brown, Kelley Washington, and Chad Jackson.
If the Patriots have their way, they’ll find a trade partner for one of their extra WRs before the start of the 2026 campaign. That may be easier said than done, which could ultimately lead to the team cutting one of their notable wideouts. Either path would lead to another question: who should go?
Brown is obviously safe, as is Doubs, who just inked a four-year, $68MM contract with the Patriots as a free agent. Hollins, who brings elite blocking ability and emerged as a key target during last season’s playoffs, also seems safe. The same goes for Williams, who was drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft and has been lauded for his game-breaking speed. That leaves three trade/release candidates: Boutte, Douglas, and Chism.
Boutte’s trade candidacy isn’t anything new, as the Patriots have been shopping him throughout the offseason. Following the Brown trade, we learned that the player himself was also open to new opportunities. The former sixth-round pick was actually the most productive of the aforementioned trio in 2025, as he finished with 33 catches for 551 yards and a position-leading six receiving touchdowns. He also paced the Patriots with 16.7 yards per reception (among players with at least 25 targets).
From the outside, it would seem that Boutte would be a layup to make the team. However, there are two factors working against him. For starters, he’s entering the final season of his rookie contract, and considering the recent investments the Patriots have made at the position, it seems unlikely he’ll be in New England beyond the 2026 campaign. Secondly, Boutte is mostly utilized as an outside wideout, a position that’s already covered with Brown, Doubs, Hollins, and Williams. Both Douglas and Chism serve as the team’s depth in the slot.
The Patriots were reportedly shopping Boutte for a fifth- or sixth-round pick but apparently couldn’t find any takers. That means the fourth-year player could eventually turn into a release candidate if the staff determines they don’t want to carry seven WRs into the regular season. Boutte’s release would provide the Patriots with about $3.6MM in cap savings.
Considering their spots in the offensive pecking order, Douglas and Chism...
