Consistency is key.
The New England Patriots need it, as does every other team in the NFL. The Patriots are proud of a particular addition that they made in free agency this offseason to foster more of that success within their ranks. Equally so, New England has high hopes that their slot receiver, DeMario Douglas, will be able to play up to that standard with a bigger workload next season.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel lionized Romeo Doubs’ consistency as being a major reason why the team signed him in free agency, while also expressing the team’s desire for Douglas to play more in 2026 at the annual league meeting on Tuesday.
“Certainly, we targeted Romeo [Doubs]. With the consistency that he’s had and shown in his first four years in the NFL. I think he’s gotten better,” said Vrabel. “I think he’s improved each and every year. …I think Pop [Douglas] is a player that’s gonna really continue to grow and develop, and we have to find ways to get him the ball.
“Kyle [Williams], really excited. Talked about him just improving his play strength, and that’s something that he’s trying to focus on here in the offseason. We know what his speed is and his release skills. We saw him go and track the ball down the field. There’s a lot of guys that we’re excited about.”
Doubs caught 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 as a member of the Green Bay Packers. The Nevada product recorded 50 or more receiving yards in eight of the 17 games that he played last season, consistent with his average of 45.3 receiving yards per game. He also posted a catch rate of 64.7 percent on the year, while dropping only three passes for Green Bay.
As for Douglas, he went for 447 receiving yards on just 31 receptions in 2025. His 14.4 yards per reception were reflective of his ability to extend the field in New England’s offense. Douglas was exceptional as a scoring threat early in games throughout the year. Those traits suggest that he is capable of playing effectively with more snaps, as well as targets in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots coach Mike Vrabel shares honest outlook on WR unit in 2026
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