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Patriots links 7/20/26: Summer recap; Spotlight on Edge, RB
Patriots links 7/20/26: Summer recap; Spotlight on Edge, RB
Kyle Williams
WR · NE · 23 yrs · exp 1 · Washington State
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general
The case for Patriots keeping Kayshon Boutte
The case for Patriots keeping Kayshon Boutte originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The story of the Patriots’ offseason has clearly been the addition of A.J. Brown . The offshoot of that significant addition to the wide receiver room has been that the odd man out, seemingly by necessity, is Kayshon Boutte . It became an issue — of sorts — when Boutte skipped the voluntary portion of the Patriots’ offseason program before ultimately reporting for mandatory minicamp. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind being here. I do want to be here, obviously,” Boutte said at minicamp in early June. “Whether that’s X, Z, F, just whatever I gotta do that’s best for me. So whether it’s learning the playbook more or moving around, I mean, there’s only one football. There’s five of us, you know? It’s football at the end of the day. You don’t know who it’s going to.” For the most part, Boutte has said the right thing, though “ I wouldn’t mind being here ” might be the slightly more honest version of his sentiment. The reality is, as Boutte enters the final year of his rookie deal after back-to-back productive seasons, he has more on the line personally than most of his teammates in 2026. Finding a way to land on a team with a weak wide receiver depth chart — Las Vegas and Miami come to mind — would be the best way to set some career highs and cash in as a free agent next offseason. And with a depth chart that includes Brown, free agent-signee Romeo Doubs , the reliable Mack Hollins , 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams , and dueling slot options Efton Chism and DeMario Douglas , the Patriots’ front office and coaching staff is likely somewhat sympathetic to Boutte’s case. Realistically, it’s impossible to envision Boutte getting the 3.75 targets per game that he was given last year before his hamstring injury, which will obviously cut into his production, which will obviously lower his value on the market next year. Boutte, though, declared publicly that the situation is not altogether unique for this season. “It’s been getting crowded every year. We find ourselves at the same position at the beginning of every season, every offseason,” he said. “But I mean, at the end of the day, you still gotta come to training camp and fight. No spot is given, no matter who it is. … Still gotta come out and perform.” Remaining in New England may not be ideal for Boutte, but as long as the 24-year-old remains committed to the program, it would be the best outcome for the Patriots. Here’s why. A.J. Brown is, obviously, a bona fide No. 1. ESPN’s polling of scouts/coaches/executives confirmed that this week when he was listed at No. 9, ahead of heavy hitters like Davante Adams , Mike Evans , Zay Flowers , Drake London , Jameson Williams , Alec Pierce , Tee Higgins , DK Metcalf , Terry McLaurin , Garrett Wilson , DeVonta Smith , Jaylen Waddle , Chris Olave and Brian Thomas Jr. Lest there be any doubt, Brown is a clear-cut No. 1 who can run every route on the tree, even if he may have lost a step on his go routes. Doubs, though, is interesting, as he’s most likely to be utilized running short and intermediate routes, getting open over the middle. In some ways, that will make Hollins’ skills a bit redundant. And though we’ve been conditioned in New England over the past 25 years to believe that a shifty, undersized slot receiver is a requirement for all NFL offenses, Boutte presents an explosive-play potential that neither Douglas nor Chism could provide. Of all the reasons for the Patriots to trade away Boutte, his blocking of Kyle Williams on the depth chart might be the least valid. Would the Patriots love it if Williams were able to shake off a truly miserable rookie season and become a contributing member of the offense? Of course. Does Williams flash some tantalizing physical tools that can make you think he just needs a few more opportunities to put it all together? Sure. No doubt. (Remember the catch at the front pylon in Baltimore ? Or the lightning [... truncated ...]
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#PostPulpit mailbag: What are the position groups to watch in training camp
The New England Patriots have ended their offseason program and now break until training camp later this month. While players are out of the facility, plenty remains to break down. So, let’s get into this week’s #PostPulpit Mailbag. What offensive and defensive positional groups is going to be the most fun to watch battle it out in camp? – mathblaster97 The talent and depth at wide receiver and defensive line will make those groups exciting to watch for me. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs building their chemistry with Drake Maye while Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams , Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas , and Efton Chism III battle for their roles — as well as their potential futures in New England . Then Milton Williams and Christian Barmore start year two together while Cory Durden , Leonard Taylor III , Joshua Farmer , Eric Gregory, Jeremiah Pharms, David Blay and Travis Shaw will be competing for depth roles. Is there any other precedent for a player doing a freelance surgery without the teams knowledge? Did it all come out copacetic for the player, contract and team at the end? – paulnewman Under the league’s CBA, players have the right to seek second medical opinions and select surgeons outside of the organization at the team’s expense. The team must be aware of any procedure beforehand, however, and then has final authority on when the player is cleared to play. There have been several examples over the years of players and teams differing on medical opinions. Most notably in recent years, offensive tackle Trent Williams sought outside medical care after Washington team doctors reportedly labeled a growth on his head harmless. An outside specialist later found it to be a form of tissue cancer that required several surgeries to remove the tumor. The situation ultimately contributed to Williams forcing a trade. As Williams’ case illustrates, relationships can often become strained during these disputes. The Jets fined and released Kelechi Osemele in 2019 after he authorized an outside surgeon to perform shoulder surgery that team doctors believed he could play through. The Saints and Michael Thomas publicly disagreed over treatment options after Thomas received a second opinion on his ankle injury and opted against immediate surgery. The situation involving Gabe Jacas and the Patriots is somewhat different. Because Jacas had not yet been drafted when he underwent his cleanup procedure, neither he nor his representatives were obligated to follow CBA procedures and notify NFL teams. As a result, the Patriots did not provide him with the standard participation agreement during the spring, and Jacas remains unsigned as the two sides continue to work through issues related to guarantees and injury protection. At this point, however, any frustration from the Patriots side is likely with the agent due to those factors. What would you say to Paul Perillo, who said on PU, that the Pats have Jacas’ rights secured without a contract until next year’s draft and not the game 10 marker that was stated before? – PatsHowYouDoIt To clarify, the Tuesday following Week 10 is the deadline after which a rookie becomes ineligible to play during that season. However, the team still retains that player’s rights until the following NFL Draft, at which point the player would be eligible to re-enter the draft and be selected by another team. Teams also lose the ability to trade the rights to an unsigned drafted rookie 13 days before the first game of the regular season. What’s your opinion of flexing Mack Hollins as a TE over WR??? He’s already has shown he’s not afraid to do the Dirty Work and Block, plus he would be a matchup nightmare as a TE vs a LB!!! – Mass Hole He won’t line up as tight end but much of Hollins’ work was already similar to a tight end — inserting in the line of scrimmage on runs and doing dirty work close to the formation. I’d imagine that won’t change this year. Will Pats get another EDGE and TE before season? If so, who? [... truncated ...]
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Sunday Patriots Notes: Upgraded playmakers ranked top-10
The New England Patriots' playmakers are now ranked as the 10th-best unit in the NFL following an offseason makeover that included acquiring A.J. Brown and signing Romeo Doubs. Quarterback Drake Maye's upgrade is expected to benefit Brown and the rest of the receiving corps, which is now deeper than in previous years. The team may trade wideout Kayshon Boutte before the season begins
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Patriots links 7/01/26: Kyle Williams enters fierce WR battle
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
TEAM TALK Patriots Unfiltered: Latest team/league buzz, training camp storylines , FIFA World Cup. (2 hours) LOCAL LINKS Athlon Sports ‘ Patriots 2026 season preview: Expectations, offense, defense, specialists, analysis. Hector Longo gives 4 huge reasons to take stock in Mack Hollins with the Patriots in 2026. This WR may be overlooked but you can’t doubt his importance in Drake Maye ’s offense. Hector Longo spotlights Kyle Williams facing a brutal receiver battle , with six WRs standing between him and a Patriots roster spot in 2026. Hector Longo calls Hunter Henry ‘Drake Maye’s security blanket’ and says the Pats need him to hold up . Hector Longo writes how Milton Williams silenced his critics with three playoff sacks and 68 percent of postseason snaps. He wants the Patriots to finish the job in 2026. Evan Cormier relays Chad Graff (The Athletic) who explains why he is not a fan of the lofty contract New England gave to free agent WR Romeo Doubs . “Giving $17 million per year (more than Mike Evans and Cooper Kupp) to a player who has only reached 700 receiving yards once and never reached 800, …the Patriots are banking that the best is yet to come for Doubs.” Hector Longo offers six reasons why Romeo Doubs should find a different number with the Patriots. 1. There is only one true Patriots’ 87. Patriots On SI ranks the top 25 Patriots of 2026, No. 21: Position switch should help OL Jared Wilson . Ethan Hurwitz identifies several important Patriots entering contract seasons and if they’ll stay inn 2027. Ethan Hurwitz explains why ESPN’s Patriots offseason grade doesn’t make much sense . Craig Ellenport hears from a rival scout on how even though the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini saga has been a major offseason storyline in the media, Vrabel has full support from his players , and the story will disappear by the start of the season. Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick react to the Patriots offensive weapons being ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL, plus where the rest of the AFC East ranks and more. (20 min.) NATIONAL NEWS Ben Solak (ESPN) 10 bold predictions for 2026 NFL season: Division winners, trades. Chiefs will miss the playoffs again, Texans win the AFC; More. Staff (ESPN) LeBron James, Serena Williams lead list of players who remained great late in their careers. Tom Brady included. Chad Reuter (NFL.com) Seven-round NFL mock draft, Round 1: Building a win-now team from active players for 2026 season. Patriots included. Bobby Kownack (NFL.com) Top 100 Players of 2026: Nos. 90-87 . No Pats. Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL offseason power rankings: No. 27 Las Vegas Raiders might finally have a plan, starting with Fernando Mendoza. EXTRACURRICULAR Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) Brendan Sorsby will not pursue path to NFL in 2026, QB to prepare for 2027 draft. Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Dianna Russini bodycam footage puts New York Times in an awkward spot. Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) New York Times reiterates its view that Dianna Russini’s handling of traffic stop was “unacceptable conduct.” /Insert eye-roll emoji here
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Sunday Patriots Notes: Will Campbell headlines second-year jump candidates
We are in the midst of the NFL offseason, with little going on around the league as a whole and the New England Patriots specifically at the moment. Naturally, this week’s version of our Sunday Patriots Notes is therefore a shortened one. Nonetheless, there are still a few things to talk about. So, let’s dive straight in. The Patriots may not be singing the “draft and develop” tune quite as loudly as they did early during Eliot Wolf’s tenure as quasi-general manager, but they have still brought in a significant number of young players over the last few seasons. Among them are 21 entering their second seasons in the league — players naturally in position to make the famous sophomore jump. Let’s take a closer look at them to find out who should be expected to show some significant improvement heading into 2026. RB TreVeyon Henderson : The Patriots’ second-round pick a year ago, Henderson led the team in every major rushing statistic as a rookie. However, on the year as a whole he still played second fiddle to starter Rhamondre Stevenson . That is not necessarily expected to change too much this fall, but the youngster should still take on a more active role in the rotation. Improved vision and blocking should help him do so and become even more of a big play threat than he already was in 2025. RB Lan Larison : After missing all of last season due to a leg injury, Larison will be competing for the No. 3 running back spot behind Stevenson and Henderson this summer. Based on spring practices, the versatile change-of-pace back can be seen as a frontrunner for that role. FB Brock Lampe : Lampe, like Larison, had to spend all of 2025 on injured reserve. However, his path to a roster spot is blocked by veteran free agency pickup Reggie Gilliam . Pending incident of accident, Gilliam will be the Patriots’ fullback, leaving Lampe to aim for the practice squad. WR Kyle Williams : Williams ran hot and cold during his rookie season but despite some promising plays had a limited overall impact. With the Patriots having revamped their receiving corps through the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs , he will face increased competition for playing time. That said, better depth especially at the X-receiver spot might allow the team to use him in a fashion better suited for his skillset. WR Efton Chism III : Chism was a non-factor for much of 2025, but did spend all year on the 53-man roster nonetheless. He will get another prime opportunity to earn a spot on the team, and we believe he will ultimately be successful . Whether that means a more active role on offense or in the return game remains to be seen, but with Mack Hollins , DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte all in a contract year, the Patriots might be playing the long game. WR Jeremiah Webb : Webb spent all of 2025 on the practice squad. Unless the former UDFA can show a massive jump during the summer, and the spring does not suggest that will be the case, this looks like a best-case scenario again for him. TE C.J. Dippre: The Patriots’ tight end depth took a hit when Julian Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury during OTAs, leaving the door wide open for others to earn the TE2 role behind Hunter Henry . Dippre has some talent and will get a chance to prove himself, but it would not be a surprise if the team went in a different direction. OT Will Campbell: Of all the Patriots second-year candidates, Campbell might be under the most pressure. The fourth overall selection in last year’s draft started all 17 of the games he was available for and had some promising stretches of play before a knee injury derailed his season and left him struggling in the playoffs. Now fully healthy and with a year of experience under his belt, he is in a prime position to take a step forward and help solidify the left side of New England ’s offensive line. OT Marcus Bryant : Bryant will be competing for a backup spot behind Campbell, Morgan Moses and Caleb Lomu. The team did give him plent [... truncated ...]
analyst
Can Drake Maye Take Another Step in 2026?
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was one first-place vote away from winning the 2025 NFL MVP award in his first full season as a starter, and one area that his supporters pointed to was the level of pass catchers he was throwing to in comparison to the award's winner, Matthew Stafford. Heading into 2026, the Patriots have rebuilt their wide receiver corps, adding Romeo Doubs through free agency and sending a first and fifth-round pick to Philadelphia for three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. Maye finished as the fantasy QB2 in 2025, accounting for 4,844 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, and as he continues to take agency over Josh McDaniels' offense, his game has the potential to reach even higher levels. He was one of the most proficient passers against man coverage last season, while Brown has been the league's most disruptive receiver against man since 2022, and with Brown and Doubs expected to hold the top two spots on the depth chart, the rest of New England's receivers like Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and, for now, Kayshon Boutte can slot into their more natural positions. With improvements made to both the receiver room and offensive line, and still possessing the ability to keep plays alive well-beyond structure, Maye is RotoBaller's QB4 for 2026, though a QB1 finish is very much in his range of possibilities
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Ranking the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 25-21
Ranking the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 25-21 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Editor’s note: Throughout the week, Phil Perry will share his rankings of the top 25 most important New England Patriots players for the 2026 season. Today, he kicks things off with Nos. 25 through 21. This year’s Patriots roster appears to be perhaps the most talented the team has had since it had the greatest quarterback of all time in its employ and was competing for Super Bowls on a regular basis. But who among the 91 players on this year’s roster are the most important? Not most talented. Not most likely to make a Pro Bowl. But most important ? In short, upon whom does this season ride? We know who the No. 1 player will be. But which of Drake Maye ’s teammates will fill out the remainder of the list? Let’s get to it, starting with the first five left out. We’ll then continue on in descending order: His speed is a real threat. And his ability to track the ball makes him more than a downfield decoy. But it’s a crowded receiver spot, and it may require an injury for Williams to be a weekly staple of this offense. Another wideout with plenty of physical talent, Douglas cracked the 20-snap mark in only five games last year out of 21 in the regular season and postseason combined. This year, the room is only more crowded. If he remains on the team, Boutte would likely deserve a spot inside the top 25 given his production with Drake Maye at quarterback a season ago. But it’s hard to envision the Patriots going into 2026 with all of these receivers remaining on their 53-man roster. Drafted in the third round this spring, it would come as little surprise if Raridon was able to work his way up to the No. 2 tight end role behind Hunter Henry . But he has some work to do before he’s the clear cut next in line behind the productive vet. Durden started six games for Mike Vrabel from Week 13 on. Along the interior of New England ’s defensive line, particularly on early downs, he’ll play a key role. The NFL is tight end obsessed at the moment because bigger and stronger offensive personnel packages can take advantage of smaller defenses that have built over time to stop explosive passes. As a fullback, Gilliam doesn’t provide a receiver skill set the way some tight ends do, but he can catch, and he’ll challenge opponents to make hard choices from a personnel standpoint thanks to his ability to steamroll opponents in the running game. Stack the box with linebackers to handle his strength? Drake Maye can throw over ’em. Stay light to prevent Maye from taking to the air? Josh McDaniels can make a call that allows Gilliam’s power at the point of attack to shine. The fullback position is slowly going extinct in the NFL. But in having one of the few who are proven, the Patriots will be a little harder to prepare for than most. Difficult choice here between Hollins and Kyle Williams. They are very different receivers, but I think both have an argument to be included on this list. Williams is a speed demon whose athleticism could cause problems for teams dead set on dedicating a safety over the top to A.J. Brown ’s side of the field. Can’t double everyone. And while Williams’ production as a rookie might not warrant that kind of attention just yet, his explosiveness on the outside means that all it takes is one completion to him to change a game. The reason we ultimately went with Hollins here is multifaceted. He was counted on a season ago to lead the receiver room in snaps (until his late-season injury) and make big catches on a consistent basis. His fellow Tar Heel, Maye, trusts him. But the size that makes Hollins a go-to target over the middle of the field also gives him the ability to be a functional blocker. He’s not a tight end, but at times he served almost in a tight end role: tight to the formation, digging out safeties in the running game. The Patriots are looking thin at the tight end spot after a season-ending injury [... truncated ...]
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Patriots survey results: Fans prefer to keep Kayshon Boutte
A recent SB Nation Reacts survey indicates that a majority of New England Patriots fans would prefer to keep wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on the roster. Despite speculation about a potential trade due to the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, fans expressed a desire for Boutte to remain, with some suggesting he could be a valuable complementary piece or even outperform other receivers on the team. The survey results suggest a divide between fan sentiment and potential team decisions regarding Boutte's future
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Picking one under-the-radar breakout star candidate for each AFC team entering 2026
While this is a relatively quiet period on the NFL calendar, it's an important moment for franchises as these offseason workouts become the foundation for what they hope will be a productive regular season. It's also the first glimpse of breakout candidates and veterans looking to remind fans of their star power. With that in mind, we highlight one player from each AFC team who could blossom into a key figure for their team. That could range from a rookie, second-year player to even a long-in-the-tooth veteran. Don't sleep on these guys. New England's wide receiver room saw plenty of offseason movement. The Patriots released Stefon Diggs and signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract. Then, on June 1, they pulled off the long-awaited blockbuster with the Eagles for A.J. Brown , inserting him as the true No. 1 wideout in the offense. While Brown and Doubs will garner most of the attention, don't sleep on Kyle Williams . The 2025 third-round pick had a relatively quiet rookie season, catching just 10 balls for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He was largely used as a deep threat, but there's certainly more for him to grow, even with the additions New England has made. It wouldn't be surprising to see Williams push veteran Mack Hollins for snaps and targets opposite Brown. Buffalo traded out of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft , which took some of the buzz away from what they accomplished over the course of the draft. However, their first pick, second-round edge rusher T.J. Parker , shouldn't be overlooked. Buffalo was in the bottom half of the league in total sacks in 2025, so there is a serious need to insert players who have a knack for getting after the quarterback. Sure, veteran Bradley Chubb , who signed a three-year, $52 million contract this offseason, will be the main figure tasked with adding pressure off the edge, but Parker should factor in as well. After all, Parker did have an 11-sack season at Clemson in 2024, which included 19.5 tackles for a loss and six forced fumbles. The talent is there, and if Parker taps into it early in his tenure with Buffalo, it could prove massive for the Bills ' hopes of reaching the Super Bowl. As part of their roster overhaul, Miami gutted its wide receiver room, releasing Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle to Denver. Washington represents a notable holdover and should see a sizable uptick in targets as the Dolphins usher in Malik Willis as their new starting quarterback. Washington was third on the team in targets (65) and receptions (46), and fourth in receiving yards (317) last season. He'll now compete with veterans Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell , who Miami brought in this offseason, along with rookies Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas . It's conceivable that Washington becomes the No. 1 target in this receiver room and puts up career numbers across the board. The Jets reshaped their offense and added two receiving threats in the first round, including Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq . That took some air out of the balloon of the Mason Taylor hype train leading into 2026, but the 2025 second-round pick should still be considered a main figure in this offense. With Garrett Wilson dealing with injuries throughout 2025, Taylor became one of New York's most consistent pass-catching options. He was second on the team in receiving yards (369) and first in receptions (44). With more stable quarterback play with Geno Smith in town to replace Justin Fields , along with a healthy crop of receivers, there should be more high-value targets and opportunities that come Taylor's way, especially if they lean heavily on 12-personnel to have him and Sadiq on the field at the same time. Did you even remember that Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to Pittsburgh? With all the big trades that have gone down, the Steelers landing Pittman has certainly flown under the radar. The veteran pass catcher gives Pittsburgh the secondary receiver option that they've been starved for, even after t [... truncated ...]
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