The Patriots are facing somewhat of a conundrum when it comes to the backend of their receiving corps.

Who will earn that final spot?

Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker will be there, having been drafted to develop alongside Drake Maye and (hopefully) become cornerstones in the offense. Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn and Kendrick Bourne are locks, likely serving as the starting trio once the latter returns from injury. Jalen Reagor looks as though he’s done enough to be kept as a kick returner.

New England has to make a decision on Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte, though, as they’ve been lockstep in competing for what is expected to be the final spot in the room — so long as Bourne is unable to return by the beginning of the season.

Is there another name that could overtake both of them, though?

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn on Thursday said he was “right in the middle” of determining who would be the team’s primary option outside of Terry McLaurin, causing many to question if it was a shot in the direction of former first-round pick Jahan Dotson.

“DQ didn’t draft me,” Dotson, the No. 16 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, said, according to the Washington Post. “Each and every year… in your profession, you got to prove yourself. You got to prove what you’re worth and what you’re capable of doing. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Washington might be comfortable with one of the guys currently competing with Dotson to be WR2, though.

“I’ve been really impressed with Olamide (Zaccheaus), and I thought he’s had a really strong camp,” Quinn said this week. “I’m looking forward to getting Luke (McCaffrey) some extra work here, (and then) Jahan (and) Dyami (Brown).”

How does New England come into this little scenario?

The Patriots have some extra draft capital stored away, and in the right situation, just might be interested in making a move for Dotson.

“The more Commanders coaches talk, the more I wonder if Jahan Dotson is on their Week 1 roster,” NFL reporter Gregg Rosenthal posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. Washington wouldn’t cut him, but there’s a legitimate possibility they try to recoup some value while moving forward without a player who has slightly underperformed.

Dotson has 84 catches for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns in 29 games, taking a step back in his second season in Washington. It’s pretty clear that he’s capable of contributing, but his skillset might be better suited for a team with ample opportunity at playing him. The Patriots, who he torched for four catches, 69 yards and a touchdown last season, can provide that.

New England shouldn’t be looking to sell the farm for Dotson, but if Rosenthal’s observations lead to something , perhaps they can get in for the right price. The Patriots could offer a fifth-round pick that looks a lot nicer than others.

It’s worth a shot, and given the fact these two teams meet for a preseason matchup next Saturday, we could start to see something come together.