The Patriots’ voluntary spring practices are underway, and with organized team activities come plenty of questions – especially concerning New England’s wide receiver room.
Wideouts may be the most unpredictable position group on the whole team, and that’s the second summer in a row where it’s the case in Foxborough.
Why does this crew always seem to be in such flux?
Let’s start with production: New England will look to supplement the loss of Stefon Diggs earlier this spring, when the team deemed his contract too rich and released him. Diggs had 1,013 yards and 85 receptions over 17 games last season – making him the first pass catcher to post over 1,000 yards since Julian Edelman’s retirement.
The Patriots signed Romeo Doubs in free agency. He’s going from one “spread the love” offense to another, but he’s well positioned to take a jump from his 724-yard season with the Packers last year now that he’s teamed up with quarterback Drake Maye.
Meanwhile, this entire week feels like one big New Year’s Rockin’ Eve countdown clock to A.J. Brown’s eventual reunion with head coach Mike Vrabel. Brown (finally) joining the Patriots would bring a lot more clarity to the depth chart that lacks a weapon for which opposing defenses have to dramatically game plan.
Maye stayed neutral on the prospect of playing with Brown when asked Wednesday.
“If he ends up being on our team, great,” Maye said. “What a great player. If he doesn’t, we’ve still got to work these guys here. It’s a tough balance, but I know he’s a phenomenal player.”
Brown’s arrival could signal deep threat Kayshon Boutte’s departure, after three seasons with the team. Boutte wasn’t a practice participant Wednesday, but Vrabel said he’s comfortable with the team’s relationship with the 24-year-old.
“The communication is, ‘Hey, how are you doing? One, you're working hard?’” Vrabel said. “And he said, ‘Yeah, I like where I'm working out at.’ ‘Okay. We'll be here ready to coach you when you're here.’ That's been very positive, and I would imagine that he would pick up where he left off and grow on the season that he had last year.”
Boutte could be part of a trade package for Brown, or he could simply be opting to work out on his own, rather than with the team.
Other receivers to watch in the Patriots’ crowded room are sophomores Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III. Williams had three touchdowns during the regular season and showed flashes of his impressive speed, but he never caught on as a consistent target for Maye. Chism made the team as an undrafted free agent and saw limited action in eight games during the regular season, but he was clearly a guy the coaches want to give opportunities to: he appeared in two playoff games and had a 20-yard grab for a first down. Both players are young, coachable, and on team-friendly contracts – but the addition of Brown, along with Doubs, would make the receiver room even more crowded than last fall.
