The Patriots are doubling down in their commitment to building around franchise quarterback Drake Maye.
New England is signing four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year deal worth up to $69 million. Diggs immediately becomes a top target for Maye, who showed flashes of superstar potential during his rookie season in 2024.
Diggs tore his ACL in Week 8 of the 2024 season, so it is unclear when he’ll be ready to go in 2025. Diggs will round out a receiving corps that showed promise and potential last season whenever he steps on the field.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here’s how Maye’s group of targets is shaping up for his sophomore season in the league. It’s also important to note that pass-catching tight ends Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry both fit into the equation.
MORE NFL NEWS:
Patriots WR depth chart
| WR | Player |
| 1 | Stefon Diggs |
| 2 | DeMario Douglas |
| 3 | Kayshon Boutte |
| 4 | Kendrick Bourne |
| 5 | Mack Hollins |
1. Stefon Diggs
Diggs is entering his 11th season in the NFL, but that shouldn’t take away from his standing as one of the game’s better pass-catchers. In eight games last season, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns.
The injury sustained during Week 8 cut his season short, but he was on pace for a seventh consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards.
Whether or not Diggs will be ready to go for Week 1 will be a talking point, but his command and playmaking ability makes him WR1 whenever he does return to play. He’s got the makeup of a player who can quickly develop on-field chemistry with Maye.
2. DeMario Douglas
Douglas may be 5-8, but it is evident that he’s one of Maye’s favorite targets. It’s no coincidence that Douglas’ career-best game with six catches for 92 yards came in Maye’s first career start.
Things could be interchangeable from here but Douglas’ 2024 production is hard to ignore. He led all of New England’s receivers with 66 receptions for 621 yards and was tied for the team-high in touchdowns with three.
3. Kayshon Boutte
Boutte’s career has had some ups and downs, but more stability at QB — and on the coaching staff — should help him.Â
Despite missing two games in 2024, Boutte ranked second among Patriots receivers with 589 receiving yards and tied for first with three touchdowns. His 43 receptions for 589 yards perfectly encapsulate his ability to make big plays, and he led the team with 11 receptions of 20-plus yards last year.
4. Kendrick Bourne
Bourne missed five games in 2024 but caught 28 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown.
The 29-year-old’s best game in 2024 came with Maye under center as Bourne caught five passes for 70 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass from Maye. Every young QB needs a sure-handed target, and Bourne could be that — he dropped four of 32 catchable targets last season.
5. Mack Hollins
Hollins was the most notable former Bills WR on New England’s roster until Diggs’ signing.
He’ll arguably have a bigger role on special teams but Hollins was very productive in 2024 with Buffalo. He caught 31 passes for 378 yards and scored five receiving touchdowns in the regular season and added another in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if he becomes a favorite target of Maye’s, too.
