The knock against the New England Patriots for decades has been a lack of talent in the wide receiver room. It was thanks to this constant turnover of average pass catchers that Tom Brady was able to throw a touchdown pass to nearly 100 different receivers during his lengthy NFL career.
One thing is for certain in 2026: nobody will be complaining about a lack of talent in the Patriots' wide receiver room.
The offseason acquisition of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs more than took care of that. Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf remains optimistic about the players that Brown and Doubs will be joining as well.
What this creates is a seven-man "log jam" heading into training camp. However, Patriots Hall of Fame wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Brown thinks New England is right where they want to be.
"Seven is a nice number when all the guys can play," Brown told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "When you have a room like that, most of the good ones know when they come in for training camp they have to turn it up. So, it could create a whole other beast in that room."
Teams usually keep five or six receivers on the final 53-man roster, hardly ever any more. If teams punch up to six, it is because they feel strongly that those final two players will both contribute on special teams.
With A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte (if he isn't traded), and Mack Hollins undoubtedly locked in, that leaves one or two spots for Demario "Pop" Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III to battle for.
But once again, Troy Brown doesn't believe in too much of a good thing.
"It's the mindset, 'I can't afford to not make this play. I can't afford not to know what to do. I can't afford to miss that block or not be a special teams player.' Because that could be the difference to me being here, or not being here," Brown said.
"The intensity of the competition in the room, it's going to make that group better players at the end of camp, and you're giving Drake Maye -- who I think is a very, very good quarterback -- an opportunity to spread the ball around to good players."
More NFL: Patriots Will Campbell 'Under Most Pressure' In NFL After 'Rough' Rookie Year