With all the player movement for the Patriots on the horizon, one must wonder if the team has any interest in keeping this pivotal player in their receiving corps.
DeMario "Pop" Douglas was a fan favorite for the New England Patriots in 2025. Unfortunately, there is significant uncertainty surrounding his return in 2026.
Douglas has publicly expressed his interest in staying with the team; however, a deal to extend that time has yet to be discussed, according to him.
The Patriots' wideout was not a breakout stud on the field, but he has definitely been an important piece of the puzzle in terms of how to make the offense work. Douglas is now at the end of his rookie deal at 25 years old. In 2025, he experienced a significant drop-off in production as the team surged in the middle of the season.
Still, Douglas made big plays when quarterback Drake Maye could find him down the field.
Douglas's on-field usage dropped 26% as the season went on, but he still finished off the year with 31 receptions for 447 yards and three touchdowns.
He made a key score early on in the AFC divisional game against the Houston Texans and their high-powered defense on a fourth-down play.
Douglas spoke to the Boston Globe last week about his hopes for 2026. He revealed he has yet to discuss sticking around and getting an extension.
“I haven’t had any talks about an extension, but I would love to stay,” Douglas told Christopher Price of the Boston Globe. “This feels like home. I’ve been here three seasons now, and I love the coaching staff and my teammates. I loved working with the coaches last year; it felt like I finally got to work with a complete staff. I would definitely love to come back.”
With all the chatter around Stefon Diggs and a potential trade for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, it's clear Douglas may need to fight a little harder to be seen on the team if those scenarios come to fruition.
As the team evaluates its upcoming moves in free agency and the draft, there is still hope that Douglas will be in New England next season, but whether he will have more space to shine elsewhere is the question that may need to be answered as well.
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