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New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs will be under the spotlight in his first season with the team in 2026, and a slate of marquee matchups against some of the best cornerbacks in the NFL will show how big a step he will take in Year 5.
Doubs approaches next season as the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver. The Nevada product was the No. 1 receiver for the Green Bay Packers in 2025 but appears due for a rise in targets from the 85 that he received last season.
Whether or not the Patriots trade for Philadelphia Eagles star wideout A.J. Brown remains to be seen. Brown’s arrival in town will relegate Doubs to the No. 2 slot in the Patriots’ receiving game and bring about a season similar to the one that he had last year, in the ballpark of 700-plus receiving yards. Without Brown in town, Doubs has the chance to strive for his first 1,000-yard season in 2026.
Five cornerbacks he’s set to face next season will challenge him throughout the year.
Doubs has a meeting against second-team All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the Patriots’ season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
Catching passes from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will benefit Doubs next season, particularly in a matchup of this sort, as Maye loves to find receivers down the field. Doubs is adept at making big catches on the sidelines and in the open field. He plays with an infectious electricity and edge that will counter Witherspoon’s excellent coverage well in Week 1.
However, Witherspoon only allowed two receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers on the year, and allowed 6.4 yards per target to receivers, which counteracts Doubs’ 8.5 yards per target from last season.
Doubs will have to fight fire with fire, proverbially speaking, against Jalen Ramsey right after a tough battle against Witherspoon in Week 1. Ramsey plays with an edge that complements his talents as a fast, physical corner.
Ramsey is a former three-time first-team All-Pro honoree who recorded an interception and eight passes defended in 2025 for the Steelers. Widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks of his generation, Ramsey has the skills and the competitive fervor to create perhaps the most trying matchup for Doubs in 2026.
Nahshon Wright has yet to make an All-Pro team in his career, but the performance he put forth in 2025 will require Doubs to take him seriously in the Patriots’ Week 6 matchup against the Jets.
Wright was everywhere on the field last season. He ranked No. 2 in the NFL in interceptions with five, one of which was a pick-six. Wright also forced two fumbles and recovered three, and had an impressive 80 total tackles on the year.
With the level of activity that Wright had last season, he figures to make Doubs work for his yardage in Week 6, making this a matchup that the Patriots’ top guy cannot sleep on.
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is the next former All-Pro honoree that Doubs will line up against prior to the Patriots’ Week 11 bye.
Johnson was limited to only seven games played in 2025 due to injury. He was able to come away with an interception last season, but prior to that, he combined for six interceptions and only four receiving touchdowns allowed to opposing receivers from 2023-24. Doubs will need to circle his calendar for this marquee matchup against one of the game’s best.
Doubs will go up against perhaps the best cornerback in the NFL next season when he takes on Patrick Surtain II on the road in Denver. Surtain followed up his season as the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with another dominant showing in 2025, garnering second-team All-Pro honors.
Surtain has the remarkable ability to stay with receivers step-for-step throughout their entire routes and time interceptions well.
Doubs will need to play at his best to get the step over Surtain at the line of scrimmage and create separation. That will be the key to him bringing in catches. Nevertheless, Surtain is a matchup that will test Doubs’ skills and athleticism the most next season.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 5 toughest matchups for Patriots WR Romeo Doubs in 2026 season
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Doubs approaches next season as the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver. The Nevada product was the No. 1 receiver for the Green Bay Packers in 2025 but appears due for a rise in targets from the 85 that he received last season.
Whether or not the Patriots trade for Philadelphia Eagles star wideout A.J. Brown remains to be seen. Brown’s arrival in town will relegate Doubs to the No. 2 slot in the Patriots’ receiving game and bring about a season similar to the one that he had last year, in the ballpark of 700-plus receiving yards. Without Brown in town, Doubs has the chance to strive for his first 1,000-yard season in 2026.
Five cornerbacks he’s set to face next season will challenge him throughout the year.
Week 1: Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon
Doubs has a meeting against second-team All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the Patriots’ season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
Catching passes from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will benefit Doubs next season, particularly in a matchup of this sort, as Maye loves to find receivers down the field. Doubs is adept at making big catches on the sidelines and in the open field. He plays with an infectious electricity and edge that will counter Witherspoon’s excellent coverage well in Week 1.
However, Witherspoon only allowed two receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers on the year, and allowed 6.4 yards per target to receivers, which counteracts Doubs’ 8.5 yards per target from last season.
Week 2: Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey
Doubs will have to fight fire with fire, proverbially speaking, against Jalen Ramsey right after a tough battle against Witherspoon in Week 1. Ramsey plays with an edge that complements his talents as a fast, physical corner.
Ramsey is a former three-time first-team All-Pro honoree who recorded an interception and eight passes defended in 2025 for the Steelers. Widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks of his generation, Ramsey has the skills and the competitive fervor to create perhaps the most trying matchup for Doubs in 2026.
Week 6: Jets CB Nahshon Wright
Nahshon Wright has yet to make an All-Pro team in his career, but the performance he put forth in 2025 will require Doubs to take him seriously in the Patriots’ Week 6 matchup against the Jets.
Wright was everywhere on the field last season. He ranked No. 2 in the NFL in interceptions with five, one of which was a pick-six. Wright also forced two fumbles and recovered three, and had an impressive 80 total tackles on the year.
With the level of activity that Wright had last season, he figures to make Doubs work for his yardage in Week 6, making this a matchup that the Patriots’ top guy cannot sleep on.
Week 7: Bears CB Jaylon Johnson
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is the next former All-Pro honoree that Doubs will line up against prior to the Patriots’ Week 11 bye.
Johnson was limited to only seven games played in 2025 due to injury. He was able to come away with an interception last season, but prior to that, he combined for six interceptions and only four receiving touchdowns allowed to opposing receivers from 2023-24. Doubs will need to circle his calendar for this marquee matchup against one of the game’s best.
Week 17: Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II
Doubs will go up against perhaps the best cornerback in the NFL next season when he takes on Patrick Surtain II on the road in Denver. Surtain followed up his season as the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with another dominant showing in 2025, garnering second-team All-Pro honors.
Surtain has the remarkable ability to stay with receivers step-for-step throughout their entire routes and time interceptions well.
Doubs will need to play at his best to get the step over Surtain at the line of scrimmage and create separation. That will be the key to him bringing in catches. Nevertheless, Surtain is a matchup that will test Doubs’ skills and athleticism the most next season.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 5 toughest matchups for Patriots WR Romeo Doubs in 2026 season
Continue reading...
