The Patriots are seeking to take the next step as a team during the 2026 season and much of that will revolve around improving on offense. I have gone into detail assessing the New England front seven heading into the 2026 season. Here I will go into detail analyzing what the Patriots have from a skill position player standpoint heading into next year.
Starting with the wide receivers of the team the Patriots have moved off Stefon Diggs from the previous season and have since replaced him with star wide out AJ Brown. Diggs is perhaps a future hall of famer who had one of the best seasons of his career last year despite being at an advanced age. However, Brown feels like the more talented and younger version of Diggs. Brown in my estimation is one of the premier wide receivers in the sport who could finally come into his own now that he is paired with the most talented QB he has ever played with.
The Patriots also acquired veteran wide out Romeo Doubs from the Packers this offseason who is currently listed as the WR2 on the Patriots’ depth chart. Doubs prior to this past season was consistently an average caliber player but in 2025 Doubs had a breakout year which was easily the best of his career. Doubs however still was nothing special in last year’s breakout campaign and ranked above average but not well above average. Doubs could certainly build off of it going forward and could emerge as a high level #2 wide out in the game as New England’s coaching staff views him in a greater light than some of the young talented receivers the Patriots currently have on the depth chart.
Speaking of some of the young talent that New England has, Kayshon Boutte also is talented and could vie for the #2 wide out role supplementing Brown in the unit as Boutte is currently listed as the WR3 on the Patriots’ depth chart. Boutte was drafted in 2023 but did not see the field much, 2024 was his essential rookie season where he saw his struggles. During the 2025 season Boutte however showed tremendous improvement and graded as an above average wide receiver although only slightly so. If Boutte can continue to improve, he could emerge as a strong receiving threat for the Patriots going forward.
The Patriots have a few other very talented young receivers who could prove to be potentially strong WR2s to supplement Brown in the unit, as New England does not have a proven high-level player in the unit as of now to go alongside Brown. DeMario Douglas has graded in the well above average range among players at his position in two of his three seasons in the NFL although grading below average in the remaining time and never accruing more than 621 yards in a season. Douglas certainly has what it takes to be a strong #2 wide out but is too unproven and inconsistent as of now and remains buried on the New England depth chart. A similar narrative can be written for 2025 third round pick Kyle Williams. Williams was drafted pretty high and had a decent rookie season that he is in line to build off. Williams averaged a remarkable 20.9 yards per reception as a rookie catching 10 balls but graded in the below average range among players at his position. While 2025 undrafted free agent Efton Chism III graded as above average albeit catching just 3 balls as a rookie.
From a tight end standpoint, the Patriots have some talent as well led by Hunter Henry who is among the most underrated players in the sport. Henry, the former 2nd rounder, graded in the top ten among all qualified tight ends last season which is the fourth time he has done that in his career. Henry in every season but one in his career has graded as above average to well above average among players at his position including being graded as the 2nd best tight end in the sport one year. Henry is one of the better if not one of the best overall tight ends in the NFL. The Patriots lack depth behind the now aging Henry who is set turn 32 at the end of next season, as 2026 third rounder Eli Raridon is the only player with some promise on the depth chart. As the remaining two tight ends on the Patriots’ depth chart are undrafted free agents with a combined zero career receptions.
The running back unit for the Patriots is intriguing as well as the team has talented underrated players in the unit. The unit is led by #1 back Rhamondre Stevenson who is underrated. Stevenson started off his career very strong consistently ranking in the top 25% among qualified players at his position according to Pro Football Focus in each of his first two seasons. Stevenson has however tailed off since then consistently hovering around the average mark in that regard. However, as Stevenson heads into year 2 with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and head coach Mike Vrabel perhaps he could capture some of the form he had earlier in his career where he was among the better backs in the sport. The biggest name in New England’s running back room is 2025 2nd rounder TreVeyon Henderson who could threaten to take the starting role from Stevenson. Henderson had a very strong rookie season ranking 4th in terms of rush yards per attempt and being graded as an above average runner despite being a rookie. Given his very high draft selection and his strong rookie year, Henderson could break out as a star next season. New England has a good amount of talent from a skill position standpoint on their roster and a breakdown of it can be found below.
Notable Wide Receivers
WR1 – AJ Brown – A to A-, could take step to A to A+ range now paired with an elite QB
WR2 – Romeo Doubs – C+ to B-
WR3 – Kayshon Boutte – C+ to B-
WR4- Mack Hollins – C
WR5 – DeMario Douglas – B-, has shown a borderline elite ceiling, too inconsistent
WR6 – Kyle Williams – C+ as rookie, 2025 3rd round pick, could breakout next season
WR7 – Efton Chism III – B- in very limited action, but just 3 career receptions as 2025 UDFA
Notable Tight Ends
TE1 – Hunter Henry – B+ to A-, one of most underrated tight ends in NFL
TE2 – Eli Raridon – 2026 3rd rounder
Notable Running Backs
HB1 – Rhamondre Stevenson – B-, elite start to career has tailed off since, could recapture previous form heading into year 2 under Vrabel/McDaniels
HB2 – TreVeyon Henderson – B- so far as 2025 2nd rounder, in line to potentially emerge as star building off strong rookie season as high draft pick
New England is seeking to take the next step on offense in 2026, AJ Brown being an upgrade over Diggs, TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams improving in year 2 in the NFL could also allow New England to have their skill position unit in 2026 be better than it was in 2025.
