Why Are the Patriots Keeping 8 Receivers? This Roster Decision Is Turning Heads

Keeping 8 receivers highlights one of biggest Patriots roster surprises

Patriots cleebrate
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates with teammates after his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP

The Patriots can almost field an entire offense with their receiver room alone.

It was a bit of a surprise that the Patriots 53-man roster sports eight receivers.

Making the team, for now, are: DeMario Douglas, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III, Javon Baker and Kendrick Bourne.

Six seemed like a safe number with an outside chance for seven.

Keeping eight rarely, if ever, happens.

Going back as far as 2003, the largest receiver rooms for the Patriots had seven. They had that number in 2008, 2014 and 2019.

Last year, they kept six.

Eight doesn’t compute with the norm.

The obvious keepers were Diggs, Douglas, Boutte, Hollins, and Williams.

Chism was so good during training camp and the preseason, he had to be kept. That’s six.

As a receiver, Baker flashed at times, but didn’t fare well in games. He conceivably got a spot on the 53 largely due to his contributions on special teams.

Bourne, meanwhile, was relegated to second team reps before getting rolled up on during practice, injuring his foot/ankle. He’s been on the sidelines since the first week in August.

He wasn’t put on IR, and still managed to gain a spot.

Will the Patriots keep all eight?

Hard to believe they will. The situation appears to be fluid. Patriots might have more wheeling and dealing via trades in the days to come.

Related Posts

🔥 REPORT | CHIEFS RUN-GAME UPGRADE – Jeremiyah Love leads a five-player group with the burst and power needed to immediately elevate the rushing attack of Kansas City Chiefs as the team seeks a true backfield reset; the remaining prospects add versatility and downhill force the roster has lacked; together they form the strongest collection of talent capable of finally stabilizing and transforming Kansas City’s ground game..ll 👇👇👇

Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs entered the year with high expectations, yet their running back room delivered one of the least effective performances the organization had…

🔥 BREAKING | CHIEFS FREE AGENCY FIRESTORM – An insider revelation has placed the Kansas City Chiefs organization under intense scrutiny as signals of a dramatic personnel shift emerge with unusual clarity. The information suggests the franchise is preparing a decisive adjustment within its internal structure, indicating a far more assertive approach to roster construction than previously anticipated. This development is accelerating quickly and positioning the Chiefs at the center of one of the most pivotal free-agency pivots in the entire NFL landscape..ll 👇👇👇

Getty Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach at the 2026 NFL Combine. Rumors have connected the Kansas City Chiefs to the running back position throughout the…

Breaking News: Three Decades, Zero Super Bowl Appearances — Yet Jerry Jones Isn’t Stepping Aside. The Cowboys’ Future Remains Tied to the Man Who Built — and Still Controls — It All.

More than 30 years after last hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is making one thing crystal clear: one more Super Bowl will not…

🚨 NFL ALL-DECADE TACKLE AND SUPER BOWL CHAMPION SEEKS ONE-DAY CONTRACT TO RETIRE A COWBOY. A legendаry offenѕіve cornerѕtone — аn NFL All-Decаde рerformer аnd Suрer Bowl chаmріon — іѕ now requeѕtіng а one-dаy deаl to fіnіѕh hіѕ ѕtory wіth the Dаllаѕ Cowboyѕ. The move would offіcіаlly cloѕe hіѕ cаreer where hіѕ legаcy wаѕ buіlt аnd gіve Cowboyѕ Nаtіon one fіnаl moment to honor а frаnchіѕe greаt. 👇👇

Frіѕco, Texаѕ – а coloѕѕаl fіgure who defіned the Dаllаѕ Cowboyѕ’ offenѕіve lіne for over а decаde, once the blіndѕіde рrotector for two dіfferent frаnchіѕe quаrterbаckѕ, іѕ рreраrіng…

🚨 BREAKING: Adam Schefter drops the bomb… and just 120 minutes later the Bills IGNITE Buffalo with a DOUBLE SUPERSTAR EXPLOSION that changes EVERYTHING! 😱👇

Bills Set to Sign Two Pro Bowl Superstars in Blockbuster Double Splash Just Hours After Vikings’ Release Announcement The Buffalo Bills struck decisively to push their Super…

📌 “He’s Coming Back to Haunt Us.” Cowboys Secure 1,695-Yard Superstar in Blockbuster Move That Instantly Raises the Stakes in the NFC East — Washington Supporters Are Feeling the Pressure.

Buckle up, NFC East — the temperature in Texas is rising fast. The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2026 offseason with urgency, ambition, and a singular goal:…