FOXBORO — A.J. Brown is clearly the most accomplished player in the Patriots’ wide receiver room, but there’s plenty of potential in the group.
And Brown sees it.
“Oh, man, the talent is stacked, the talent is stacked, and that’s what you want,” Brown said. “You want guys to push each other. We talk about it all the time, raising that standard, pushing each other and holding each and everybody accountable.”
Behind Brown, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who signed a four-year, $68 million contract, will also be a starter. The third starting spot has yet to be decided, however. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins both started last season and remain on the roster. Kyle Williams was a third-round pick last season. DeMario Douglas has started 14 games in his NFL career, and Efton Chism, an undrafted free agent last season, appears to have improved and is consistently getting open in minicamp.
Players like Brown, Doubs, Boutte and Hollins can be moved around formations in different roles, while Douglas and Chism are more limited to the slot. Williams was primarily used as a deep option during his rookie season but could expand his role in Year 2.
The Patriots will have a difficult decision to make on cutdown day, assuming no one from the group has been traded, since the talent goes seven deep, and most teams typically keep just six wide receivers.
“It’s hot and cold in that room,” Brown said when asked about the receiving corps off the field. “It’s a lot of different personalities.
“We have a great room, great chemistry already. And the guys just are kind of feeding off each other and enjoying each other.”
Hollins is typically one of the loudest voices in practice, and Douglas and Williams are also both talkers, whereas a player like Doubs is more soft-spoken. Chism got the offense fired up with the touchdown celebration after catching a pass from backup quarterback Tommy DeVito in practice.
That seemed to inspire the Patriots’ defense, as well, which went tit for tat with the offense during red-zone drills.
Brown liked how both sides were jawing at each other.
“That’s what you want, because then the real dogs come out,” Brown said. “Yeah, real dogs come out and play, but all the talking is just talk. You’ve got to play at the end of the day. So, if you can back it up, I don’t care. Bark, do what you’ve got to do.”
Brown said he felt like he got the last laugh in practice with a touchdown on the final play.