The competition at wide receiver will be as fierce as it’s ever been for the New England Patriots at training camp.
It’s a necessary shot in the arm for a unit that has struggled for the last six seasons. Too many draft misses and free agency blunders left the Patriots with one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL.
Coach Mike Vrabel arrived in the nick of time to pick up the pieces, and he managed to do so by making multiple moves at the position in the offseason. The Patriots signed four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs to a three-year deal, and they used a third-round draft pick on rookie wideout Kyle Williams.
They also signed veteran free agent wide receiver Mack Hollins, along with making upgrades along the offensive line. There is no certainty that the recent moves will turn things around, but the team appears to be headed in a better direction.
Some tough decisions will need to be made at training camp with only 53 overall available roster spots and 12 wide receivers currently signed to the team. Today, we’re ranking every Patriots wide receiver by their chance of making the final 53-man roster.
12. Demeer Blankumsee
Demeer Blankumsee should be aiming to show enough promise to earn a call back as a future member of the practice squad. The undrafted rookie still has plenty of room to grow as an NFL receiver, and his hope should be landing on the right roster that gets the most out of his talent.
11. Jeremiah Webb
Jeremiah Webb is doing all of the right things in his work to improve at the next level. He recently spent time working out with teammate Kyle Williams, along with future opponents in New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and Miami Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis. He’s a long shot to make the roster, but his work ethic shouldn’t go unnoticed.
10. John Jiles
John Jiles is a tremendous athlete with some legitimate playmaking skills. He lept over a grown man in pads with the New York Giants last year. However, he has spent the last two seasons on a practice squad, and that isn’t likely to change for the former undrafted receiver.
9. Javon Baker
Javon Baker’s underlying talent is undeniable, but he has struggled putting it together on the field consistently enough to make a real impact. His back is against the wall with limited roster spots and multiple newcomers clearly ahead of him on the depth chart. He’s going to need a special training camp performance to stick on the roster.
8. Ja’Lynn Polk
Ja’Lynn Polk looked promising in last year’s training camp and somehow fell off a cliff once the season started. It’s hard to know if it was a confidence issue or some other problem that kept him from performing up to the level he’s clearly capable of performing. In only his second NFL season, he’s already fighting for his job.
7. Efton Chism III
Undrafted rookie Efton Chism III was one of the most surprising players throughout the spring practices. He’s a shifty receiver with quick feet and great hands. There are some clear similarities to his game as past Patriots greats, like Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. No, that isn’t an attempt to make an outright comparison. Chism still has work to do to make the final roster, but he is clearly off to a strong start.
6. Kayshon Boutte
Demario Douglas racked up the most receiving yards of all of the Patriots’ wideouts last season. However, Kayshon Boutte was viewed as the top playmaking receiver during that run. He stretched the field multiple times and connected with quarterback Drake Maye on vertical routes. The Patriots are hoping there’s more to where that came from in 2025.
5. Kendrick Bourne
It’s easy to see why Kendrick Bourne has been so excited about the return of Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator. Bourne had a career-high 55 receptions and 800 receiving yards the last time he played in McDaniels’ offense. While this isn’t the same offense as past iterations, there should be enough similarities to give Bourne a leg up on the competition.
4. Mack Hollins
The Patriots clearly have a role for Mack Hollins in mind as a big-bodied, sure-handed receiving target. There isn’t much flash to his game, but he’s tough and dependable when it matters most. His presence should especially pay off in the red zone, which is an area the Patriots have struggled in for years.
3. Demario Douglas
No other Patriots wideout had more receiving yards than Demario Douglas last season. He’s projected to be the team’s top option in the slot, and he could be even better with four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and explosive rookie Kyle Williams in the mix.
2. Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs is expected to serve as the No. 1 receiving target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. There’s no reason to think his time in New England would be cut short, unless he forces the team’s hand with issues off the field. Another boat incident could lead to a quick end to Diggs’ time with the Patriots.
1. Kyle Williams
The Patriots just spent a third-round draft pick on Kyle Williams, who has come as advertised during the spring practices. He’s quick in and out of his routes, can consistently get open and exploit the deep parts of the field. It’s safe to say Williams’ job is safer than every other receiver currently on the roster.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Ranking every Patriots WR by chance of making the 53-man roster