Josh McDaniels may have failed twice as a head coach, but he is undoubtedly one of the best offensive coordinators in NFL history.
With a track record of turning undervalued assets into key contributors and adjusting his system to fit his personnel, McDaniels’ return could not have come at a better time for New England, a team that has been an abject failure on that side of the ball for two straight seasons.
While McDaniels’ primary task is to help Drake Maye realize his full potential, he also has an opportunity to get the offense moving in the right direction for a player who should be an integral part of the unit.
According to NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, wide receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas has a strong contingent of support around the league even after posting a relatively disappointing stat line of 66 catches for 621 yards and three touchdowns in his second NFL season.
One of the main reasons people around the NFL are optimistic about what lies ahead for the third-year wide receiver is McDaniels.
"I would even go so far as to say some excitement for Pop Douglas and his future in New England, specifically under Josh McDaniels," Perry said on the Next Pats Podcast. "They just look at his physical skill set and they say, ‘Boy, he was misused last year and that’s a guy that should be contributing a lot more.’”
Despite some injury concerns, Demario Douglas has the skill set to excel as a slot receiver in Josh McDaniels' offense.
He may not possess Julian Edelman's physicality or Wes Welker's pristine route-running chops, but the 2023 sixth-round pick has excellent quickness and strong hands — two key qualities that could allow him to flourish as one of Drake Maye's top targets.
With a long history of obtaining high-level production from similar players, it will be fascinating to see how McDaniels deploys Demario Douglas.
Can the 5-foot-8, 192-pound receiver handle a more prominent role?
If Douglas stays healthy and acclimates quickly to what can be a notoriously difficult system, he could put himself in a position for a long-term contract extension.
Most importantly, though, New England need the talented wideout to elevate his game to help Drake Maye and company establish a winning culture again.
And there's no better way to do that than to pair him with an offensive coordinator with six Super Bowl titles on his résumé.
