The New England Patriots have some key extensions looming, but one player may not be getting talked about enough.
Christian Gonzalez is extension eligible this offseason, and Drake Maye will be eligible next offseason. However, the Patriots also have a young, talented receiver who wants to stick around. DeMario Douglas is going into the final year of his rookie deal, but he wants to stay in New England.
“I haven’t had any talks about an extension, but I would love to stay,” Douglas told The Boston Globe’s Christopher Price on Tuesday. “This feels like home. I’ve been here three seasons now, and I love the coaching staff and my teammates. I loved working with the coaches last year; it felt like I finally got to work with a complete staff. I would definitely love to come back.”
Douglas confirmed that he and the Patriots have not started extension talks, but the team is likely focused on locking Gonzalez up first. However, Douglas is a solid piece of their team.
He has 1,629 receiving yards and six touchdowns since the start of the 2023 season. He is not a primary starter, but a valuable receiver who fills a specific role for the offense. He caught 31 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns last season.
He had the second-most yards after catch of any receiver on the team, despite not starting a single game. He is a shifty receiver who is a real threat with the ball in his hands. He led all receivers on the team in yards after the catch in the playoffs. He also scored one touchdown in the playoffs.
Douglas may not be a superstar yet, but he is a player worth keeping around. In what was a rough Super Bowl for the Patriots’ receivers, Douglas was second on the team in receiving yards.
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