Reinforcements are arriving for Drake Maye at the wide receiver position in New England.
Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is signing with the Patriots in free agency, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a four-year deal worth $68 million in base salary ($17 million per year) with a maximum value of $80 million ($20 million per year), according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Doubs, 25, is coming off a career year with the Green Bay Packers in which he tallied 55 receptions for 724 yards with six touchdowns. He also added eight catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ NFC Wild Card matchup with the Bears in January.
Doubs provided consistent production in Green Bay, with at least 46 catches and at least 601 receiving yards in each of the past three seasons. He’s particularly effective in the intermediate passing game and should help the Patriots make up for some of the production lost by Stefon Diggs, who amassed 85 catches for 1,013 yards in 2025 while working primarily out of the slot.
Doubs isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Diggs, however. And a look at the Patriots’ wide receiver room reveals several solid options — but still no true No. 1 wide receiver for Maye.
Boutte made great strides in 2025, averaging a career-high 16.7 yards per reception (33 catches for 551 yards) while emerging as Maye’s top deep threat. Hollins was a dependable target for Maye as well, finishing third on the team in receptions behind Diggs and Hunter Henry with 46 catches for 550 yards.
New England could go into 2026 with this current receiver group, which has plenty of depth and upside in the form of promising 2025 draft pick Kyle Williams. But given that Maye was one of the NFL’s best deep-ball throwers last season, there’s a case to be made for the Patriots adding a bona fide No. 1 wideout who can stretch the field and force defenses to alter their game plans.
The first name that comes to mind, of course, is Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who has been tied to New England in trade speculation. The three-time Pro Bowler has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven NFL seasons and has averaged 15.3 yards per catch over his career. At 6-foot-1, 226 pounds, he’d be a great vertical threat for Maye and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
The Eagles reportedly have set a high bar for Brown, reportedly seeking a first-round pick and a second-round pick in trade offers for the star wide receiver. The good news for the Patriots? Doubs’ signing means their need for another wideout isn’t as strong, which could give them leverage in negotiations with Philly.
Doubs’ signing is a smart move for a team that should surround Maye with as much talent as possible. But there’s a strong case for Vrabel and Co. to complement Doubs’ addition with a top-flight option at the position.
