The Patriots made a very different kind of splash this offseason, and that puts Romeo Doubs squarely in the spotlight.
A year after handing out the biggest contract in franchise history to Milton Williams, New England took a much quieter approach this time around. The team still had plenty of cap space, but instead of chasing one massive deal north of $100 million, it committed its biggest investment to Doubs: four years, $68 million.
That kind of money comes with a clear message. The Patriots believe Doubs can be a real difference-maker for Drake Maye and the offense, and now the challenge is turning that belief into production.
So far, Doubs hasn’t exactly looked like a runaway standout. That matters, because once the team gets back later this month, the attention on him is only going to intensify. Training camp is where the pressure starts to show, and for a player with this contract, every rep will be watched closely.
The Patriots are also expecting him to settle in behind A.J. Brown, who is set to be the leading receiver on the roster this season. Doubs is projected as the No. 2 option, which gives him a real chance to carve out a major role if he can build chemistry with Maye this summer.
There is reason for optimism in his track record. Doubs spent four seasons with the Packers and already showed he can be a useful piece in a passing game. His best year came last season, when he finished with 55 catches for 724 yards and six touchdowns.
That production doesn’t match what Brown has done, or what Stefon Diggs has put together in recent years, and Doubs still hasn’t reached 1,000 receiving yards in a season. But the Patriots are betting that a quarterback like Maye, paired with an offensive coordinator like Josh McDaniels, can help push him closer to that level. Having Brown on the field alongside him could help too.
If Doubs delivers, it would go a long way toward showing that New England’s gamble wasn’t nearly as risky as some believed. It would also ease some of the concerns around Brown’s knee health, especially with his age still hanging over the conversation for some.
For now, though, the expectation is simple: Doubs has to perform, and he has to do it at a high level. Training camp should start revealing whether the Patriots were right to pay him like a major piece of the offense.
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