We’re 15 days from the final NFL cut day, August 27th, when the Patriots and every other NFL team must have their roster whittled down to 53 guys.
That means 37 have to go, and there are a whole load of wideouts fighting for a spot.
The wide receiver room has been a point of fascination since OTAs. A refrain has emerged from that position group: “Don’t confuse the results with the process.” It’s an idiom rookie Kyle Williams said after Monday’s walkthrough, and you’ll hear it again from his coach, later in this story. If the result on August 27th is six receivers, here’s a prediction of who they are based on how the process has looked:
On the team
Stefon Diggs
Diggs has been the most obvious lock for the roster since the spring, (maritime festivities aside). His ACL rehabilitation has looked strong and steady, and now the challenge becomes building more chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye. The two have shown a strong connection on days in shorts and shells. That’s been great, but it’s less apparent when the pads come on. Some of that fade may be due to Diggs’ slightly limited participation. He was a late addition to the first joint practice of the preseason and inactive in the preseason game.
Receivers coach Todd Downing is, overall, pleased with the veteran’s play:
“Where he’s at in his process right now is where we want him to be. He’s working hard when he’s out there with his reps, and you see him making some plays. The big thing with him is understanding that we can’t confuse results with the process, so if there’s a day where he doesn’t have a whole bunch of production, that doesn’t mean he isn’t doing his job to get open. The process for him is going to have to be learning this system and learning exactly what the quarterback and what Josh [McDaniels] is looking for, specifically. And making sure that he’s in the right spot at the right time. If he continues to refine that, I think he’ll stay on the trajectory that we expect.”
DeMario Douglas
Douglas has had a very strong training camp, and he’s developing into the sort of safety release valve a young quarterback needs at slot receiver. Maye targeted Douglas far more than any other pass catcher in walkthrough team competitive drills on Monday. Plus, he’s an obvious fit for McDaniels’ classic Patriots scheme. His $993,333 AAV contract is also incredibly team-friendly if he can improve from last year’s sub-700-yard season - and he should.
Mack Hollins
Hollins only returned to action off the PUP list the day before the Patriots’ in-stadium practice. He’s since folded into the offense pretty seamlessly, and he was, notably, the first receiver Maye targeted in the preseason game against the Washington Commanders. The Patriots have $3.5 million guaranteed owed to Hollins, so it’s a good he fits in now that he’s on the field. His 6’4 stature gives an otherwise relatively diminutive room a different look physically. He’s likely going to be used in a very similar fashion as he was in Buffalo last season.
Kyle Williams
The Patriots’ 69th pick in the draft flashed his route-running ability for everyone to see while paired with backup Josh Dobbs against Washington Friday night. Unfortunately, his burst off the line of scrimmage didn’t end with a touchdown – and the blame wasn’t on Williams. He’s has had a relatively predictable rookie training camp: he’s hauled in one of the deepest shots from a quarterback in competitive periods, but he’s also had plenty of drops. He’s buried a bit down the depth chart relative to how many snaps he’s playing with the starters. That’s okay. He’s the lone wide receiver draft pick from the spring and it would be a shock to see his time cut short before his first regular season game.
Kayshon Boutte
Is this the season Boutte finally breaks through? It’s very possible, and up until this point in camp, he’s been given high level reps and made the absolute most of them. Boutte’s been dependable, especially on days heavy on red zone work. He has the ability to out-physical some of the best from New England’s secondary on contested catches. That’s a skill head coach Mike Vrabel can’t ignore.
“He’s put in extra time, and I think it’s showing, and it’s something that he’s being rewarded with,” Downing said before Monday’s practice.
Bubble boys
A sixth receiver spot may come down to a position battle between second-year, sixth-round draft pick Javon Baker and rookie UDFA Efton Chism III, and it may be a matter of who can contribute more on special teams, as well. Both young guys have taken reps with backups throughout camp.
Baker vs. Chism III
Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer spoke glowingly of both players before Monday’s practice.
“Javon has a great skillset, man. He can run, he’s got length. He’s fast, he’s fearless. All those things right there, when you talk about the gunner position and talk about players, you’ve got to have that and you’ve got to have some mental aspect, too, to go out there and just go balls to the wall,” he said. “That’s what he’s doing right there and he has that kind of mindset.”
Baker’s made multiple eye-popping catches through training camp. The question becomes whether those plays are enough to erase the dismal rookie season he had last year, and any lingering questions about whether he’s fully checked-in at the professional level. It should be noted that Vrabel sounded outright giddy about his special teams reps after the preseason game.
“Efton’s doing everything we’re telling him to earn a role on special teams,” Springer said, about Chism.
“He’s trying to earn a role right now, and I’m happy with where he’s at,” he added.
Chism has gained momentum over just the last few practices, including – notably – the joint practice with Washington in which he recorded three catches on targets from Dobbs. He added a heads-up special teams play in the preseason game to record his first touchdown. Downing called him “an absolutely joy to work with.”
Chism also garnered a healthy amount of attention as an UDFA before signing with the Patriots for a record-breaking $259,000 contract. If they decide to cut him on August 27th there is no guarantee he’ll stay around to place on the practice squad.
Get ready to say farewell?
Ja’Lynn Polk
Polk has had an injury-plagued 2025 and the season hasn’t even started yet. Now, he’s vanished from view after sustaining an injury in the first preseason game. Polk has about $2.2 million that counts against the salary cap this year if the Patriots place him on injured reserve. It doesn’t bode well for the second-year receiver’s immediate future with the team, and may come down to what was first seen in him around the league as a second-round pick coming out of the University of Washington.
Kendrick Bourne
Bourne looked like a natural fit for old friend Josh McDaniels at the start of summer. He’s now dealing with a lower leg injury from the in-stadium practice two weeks ago, and it’s fair to doubt whether he still makes sense as a core piece to the offense here. He clearly has had a good report with McDaniels in the past and is familiar with his offense. It’s difficult to tell what lies ahead for him, outside of the Patriots, without further knowledge of his injury. If the leg isn’t that serious, does he have value as a trade chip?
Jon Jiles
The returning practice squad player got a nice a shout-out from Vrabel before Monday’s practice. He just hasn’t done enough to elevate his position above where he was in 2024.