From what was seen during the offseason, it appeared DeMario Douglas was dwindling in the revamped Patriots offense under Josh McDaniels, despite how good he had been for the team over the last few years. That wasn't the initial thought when the offensive coordinator returned to New England, though, as he is known for using slot receivers to the fullest.
So there was a lot of optimism that Douglas could become a vital weapon for Drake Maye again this year, only for his lack of inclusion throughout training camp to seemingly lower those chances.
Fortunately, the rise of Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs has made the Patriots offense a legitimate threat again, allowing Douglas to establish a new role he has never played before.