Wide receiver isn’t exactly a position of strength for the 2025 New England Patriots. But don’t tell that to DeMario Douglas.
Douglas and fellow 2023 sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte are the longest-tenured members of an overhauled Patriots receiver room that features free-agent imports Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins and rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III. They’re led by receivers coach Todd Downing, who’s spent two decades in the NFL and held multiple offensive coordinator jobs.
Douglas joined ex-Patriots David Andrews and Brian Hoyer on a new episode of The Quick Snap podcast to share his perspective on the new-look group — starting with Downing, who has made a point to hold his receivers accountable this season.
“He’s been doing a great job just breaking everything down with us,” Douglas said of Downing. “No matter how good the play is, he’s still going to correct the little things, because it could show up at any time. So, Coach Todd, he’s been doing a great job with the receiver room and holding us to a certain standard.”
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According to Douglas, Diggs and Hollins have been on-field tone-setters as the clear elder statesmen in the receiver room. (Diggs and Hollins are both 31 years old, with 18 combined NFL seasons between them.)
“Me and Boutte, we needed Diggs and Hollins to show us the way, to show us how to practice, how to carry ourselves and how to operate things to become successful,” Douglas said. “Those guys have (had) a long career in this league because they’ve been doing the things right.
“So, I feel like that was a great asset to the team because we needed those leaders. Diggs is going to push you, and Hollins is going to push you too. How Hollins practices is amazing. He shows us how to practice.”
While Diggs and Hollins are the established veterand, it was Douglas’ draft classmate, Kayshon Boutte, who led the way in Week 1 with six catches for a team-high 103 yards to build off his strong finish to the 2024 season. In fact, only four receivers in the NFL — Drake London, Malik Nabers, Ricky Pearsall and Ladd McConkey — have more receiving yards than Boutte (343) over their last four regular-season games.
“Just his mindset, it switched on, and he’s unstoppable,” Douglas said of Boutte. “He’s been balling since camp. Well, last year, they’ve seen it, but he’s been balling.”
Unless Diggs can turn back the clock after his 2024 ACL surgery, the Patriots still lack a true No. 1 wide receiver and have a largely unproven group, which is why our Patriots insider Phil Perry ranked New England’s playmakers 31st out of 32 NFL teams this offseason.
But what they lack in top-end talent, perhaps they can make up for in depth, with Williams and Chism both flashing potential during training camp and the preseason to round out a relatively balanced six-man group.
“I feel like our room together, we just add — we play for each other, man,” Douglas said. “We’re so connected and locked in with each other, and it’s good, man.”
Also in this episode:
- Takeaways from Week 1 loss against Raiders.
- Defense takes different approach.
- Moving on to Miami!
