Green Bay Packers free agent Romeo Doubs has a new home, and a nice pay raise along with it. Doubs agreed Tuesday to a four-year, $68 million contract with the Patriots, a deal reportedly worth up to $80 million after incentives.
That's an excellent addition to a receiver-needy New England roster, but at a cost some teams would hesitate to pay for a mid-tier target like Doubs. Certainly, it's a good chunk more than his projected four-year, $48 million contract per Spotrac.
The Packers, for one, will rest easy with their decision to let the former fourth-rounder walk. Really, it was no decision at all. They will wish him luck over in the AFC, but GM Brian Gutekunst should have no regrets on bidding Doubs farewell.
Packers had no business being involved in a Romeo Doubs bidding war
To be sure, Doubs was a valuable contributor in Green Bay. In 2025, he led the team with 55 catches and 724 receiving yards, stepping up to fill the void left by Jayden Reed's early-season injury.
He finished his Packers tenure with 21 career touchdowns, 40-plus receptions in every season, and 600-plus yards in each of his last three. The Doubs experience had its ups and downs, both on the field and off it, but he established himself as a consistent producer.
Last year, especially, he also expanded his game as a big-play threat, topping the team as well with 12 receptions of 20-plus yards. As a percentage of his total catches, he posted the highest rate of such plays in his career.
Doubs' overall production will be welcome in a Patriots receiving room that relied heavily on the now-released Stefon Diggs. Quarterback Drake Maye had few reliable targets. Doubs will give him one.
Paying him $17-20 million per season was never a feasible option for Green Bay. They were not expected to bring him back, even when annual salary estimates hovered in the $12 million range. Doubs' actual contract reinforces just how expensive even middling receivers can become in unrestricted free agency. He was a bargain on a cheap rookie contract, but if anything, that new deal is probably an overpay.
His departure will, of course, leave a hole on the depth chart, but the Packers have the pieces to avoid participating in the sweepstakes. They have Matthew Golden. For now, Dontayvion Wicks isstill a member of the team. Christian Watson, whose 2026 salary is $11 million, will be healthy to start the season. Savion Williams could grow into a capable fourth or fifth option.
That's not asking for a lot. Meanwhile, Doubs' market value in free agency enabled him to ask for a lot more money than the Packers would dream of giving him.