The arrival of A.J. Brown instantly upgrades the Patriots’ passing attack and brings clarity to how the wide receiver room will take shape this summer.
The New England Patriots just showed the NFL world that they’re in “win-now” mode after trading for Philadelphia Eagles’ All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The trade comes on the heels of New England’s appearance in Super Bowl LX, and caps off an offseason of roster transactions driven around the goal of building a sustainable contender around quarterback Drake Maye.
Brown’s arrival gives the Patriots their most explosive weapon at the “X” receiver since the days of Randy Moss (2007-2010), and his play style perfectly complements Maye’s strengths as a passer. As soon as he walks through the doors of Gillette Stadium, Brown becomes the number-one option for Josh McDaniels’ passing attack — a player who will receive a high volume of targets and force defenses to gameplan around him.
The acquisition of Brown not only gives New England a high-end WR1, but also makes the pecking order in the depth chart a much clearer projection heading into the summer months. The Patriots currently have 12 wide receivers on their 90-man roster, but by the time cut-down day comes, that number will be trimmed significantly.
Here’s a closer look at the state of the New England Patriots’ wide receiver room following the addition of A.J. Brown:
Wide Receivers (12)
Kayshon Boutte, A.J. Brown, Efton Chism III, Nick DeGennaro (Rookie), Kyle Dixon (Rookie), Cameron Dorner (Rookie), Romeo Doubs, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Jimmy Kibble (Rookie), Jeremiah Webb, Kyle Williams
Jun 2, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) reaches out for the ball during the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesA.J. Brown is now the head of the class in the Patriots’ wide receiver room, coming off of four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and two years removed from back-to-back 1,400-plus yard campaigns that resulted in All-Pro selections. He’ll primarily align along the boundary as New England’s “X” receiver and present mismatches for opposing defensive backs on a weekly basis.
Free agent acquisition Romeo Doubs, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, projects to slide in as the Patriots’ de facto number-two receiver. He aligned primarily as an outside receiver in Green Bay, but showed versatility to align inside with a high percentage of condensed formations in the Packers’ offensive scheme. Another bigger-body at 6’2”, 204 lbs., Doubs will likely serve as New England’s “Z” in two-receiver sets, but many predict that he’ll bump inside as a slot receiver in three-receiver sets — filling a role similar to Stefon Diggs’ in 2025.
The addition of two boundary receivers may spell the end of Kayshon Boutte’s tenure with the team. That may happen in short order, as the team has been openly shopping the wideout and he hasn’t been with the team during spring activities. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Boutte broke out as a reliable downfield threat last season with 33 receptions on 46 targets, 551 receiving yards (16.7 yards per catch), and six touchdowns.
He’ll want the opportunity to play more snaps than he’d receive as a backup behind Brown in Foxboro in 2026, and he’s earned as much with his play on the field. Both sides would be well-off in finding a trade partner soon.
Without Boutte on the roster and with Brown and Doubs as the leaders of the group, the Patriots will likely rotate in a stable of receivers prominently featuring Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams.
Hollins ranked second amongst New England wide receivers in targets (65) and receptions (46) in 2025, providing Maye with a security blanket on intermediate routes with reliable hands and a wide catch radius and frame (6’4”, 221 lbs.). He moved around the formation frequently last year — even serving as a pseudo-tight end and additional in-line blocker in the running game. He will be the first sub-in for Patriots' wideouts in both two and three-receiver personnel groupings.
The departure of Kayshon Boutte will also pave the way for 2025 third-round pick (69th overall) Kyle Williams to see a larger role. Williams showed flashes as an elite deep separator on limited volume last season, collecting 10 receptions on 21 targets, 209 yards (20.9 yards per catch), and three touchdowns — but will need to develop more consistent chemistry with Maye to be considered a more full-time contributor in the offense.
Williams rotated in as a backup X in 2025, but his tape at Washington State and testing measurables (5’11”, 190 lbs., with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash) would suggest that he has what it takes to align at a variety of different spots in the formation. An increased snap share through the summer and early fall could prove to be useful in unlocking some untapped potential with the 23-year-old.
Filling in as the fifth and sixth receivers on the roster would be DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism III. Both play primarily in the slot in three-receiver sets, and many have projected a training camp battle for a roster spot between the two. In our recent 53-man roster predictions, both hosts on the Patriots Roundtable Podcast had the team keeping six receivers — with Douglas and Chism as the final two that made the cut.
Douglas — like Boutte — enters the final year of his rookie contract as co-sixth round selections in 2023 (Boutte was taken 187th overall, Douglas was taken 210th overall). He’s shown flashes of explosive playmaking ability during his three seasons with the team, but has failed to find consistent production with Maye at the helm of the offense. Douglas’ tenure with the Patriots reached its peak in 2024 when he set career-best marks in receptions (66), targets (87), and receiving yards (621), but saw a significantly decreased role in 2025 with just 31 receptions.
New England’s front office and coaching staff have maintained a positive outlook for Douglas entering 2026, and — as per usual — he’s shown off his athletic ability during non-padded practices this spring. He could be a trade candidate this fall, but is more likely to see an increased role in the slot without Diggs commanding the lion’s share of the offensive snaps there.
Efton Chism III signed with the Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent (UDFA) in 2025, and was one of two UDFAs to make the 53-man roster (edge rusher Elijah Ponder). Chism quickly became a fan favorite as a prototype McDaniels’ slot receiver and drew early comparisons to the likes of Julian Edelman and Wes Welker.
Lofty expectations for a largely unproven player, but Chism’s strengths as an underneath threat who finds the soft spots in zone coverage do profile him as a much different type of slot receiver than Douglas. Chism won’t impress with raw athleticism, but he will win with high football IQ and finishing ability.
At very least, it’s safe to say that McDaniels’ affinity for the profile and Chism’s early grasp of the system may provide a longer rope to make the team as a bottom-of-the-roster contributor with special teams versatility. More optimistically, Chism can use his extended time in the system to earn additional opportunities in training camp and land a rotational role in the offense as a chain-mover during the regular season.
After Chism, a line of division crosses New England’s wide receiver room, with the remaining five players looking to disrupt the pecking order entirely.
Jeremiah Webb was another in the Patriots UDFA in 2025 who spent the vast majority of the season with the practice squad (he was elevated to the active roster for New England’s Wild Card match-up against the Los Angeles Chargers, but was inactive on game day). He’s the only non-rookie of the group, and flashed with good athletic ability in training camp and the preseason last year.
The Patriots didn’t draft a receiver in 2026, but did sign four UDFAs to round out the team’s group. Kyle Dixon of Culver-Stockton headlined the group with $252,500 in contract guarantees, but missed the team’s practice session that was open to the media last week. The 6’2”, 220 lb. receiver profiles similar to Mack Hollins as a rotational Z that can play a variety of positions and contribute as a run blocker.
It will be an uphill battle for Nick DeGennaro, Cameron Dorner, and Jimmy Kibble to make a push for a spot on the final 53-man roster, but at this point, anything can happen. More probable than not, they’ll be auditioning for a place on the practice squad or to sign on with a 53-man roster elsewhere.
Looking Ahead
Jun 2, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) speaks at a press conference after practice at the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesAdding A.J. Brown to the wide receiver group in Foxboro not only gives the team a bona fide number-one option, but also establishes a much clearer picture for how the remaining spots will be filled. With Doubs taking on a significant role in the offense behind Brown, Drake Maye enters 2026 with a new duo of wideouts at the top of the room — and likely upgrades at both positions — fresh off an MVP-caliber season.
A versatile rotation featuring Hollins, Williams, Douglas, and Chism and competition behind those returning contributors will round out one of the more talent-rich receiver rooms in recent memory for New England — but leave Kayshon Boutte as the odd-man out.
Boutte is likely to be the next domino that falls for the Patriots as they construct a roster primed for repeat success in 2026.
How do you see the wide receiver room shaking out this summer? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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