Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Kyle Williams

Monday, April 6, 6:01 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams was an early third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and despite a history of draft misses at the position, a new regime in Foxborough, along with a far from insurmountable depth chart, helped to create considerable hype around the speedster out of Washington State. And yet, even as quarterback Drake Maye made a colossal year two leap into MVP candidacy, Williams caught only 10 passes as a rookie. In speaking at the NFL owners meeting, head coach Mike Vrabel touched on Williams' speed and release off the line, traits that helped him cash in on several big plays in 2025, but noted that he would need to increase his play strength to stay on the field. Romeo Doubs was added through free agency as a replacement for last season's top pass catcher, Stefon Diggs, and his superior run blocking should make him more of a staple in two-receiver sets, as Diggs was frequently used as part of a rotation, particularly early in the year as he recovered from a 2024 ACL tear. The Patriots are also still linked to Eagles receiver AJ Brown, who many executives believe will be made available for trade after June 1st. With Brown, Doubs, and Williams all profiling primarily as boundary receivers, such an addition could make it difficult for Williams to find the field with any regularity.