New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor is looking to bounce back after a season that saw him underperform in the team’s offense.
He caught 37 catches for 473 yards and three touchdowns in the 2021 season. He never recorded more than 55 yards and caught two or fewer passes in six games. Those numbers were down from a 2020 season that saw him tally 48 catches for 896 yards and eight touchdowns with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Heading into his second season with the organization, the Patriots acquired depth at the position in wide receiver DeVante Parker. They also drafted rookie Tyquan Thornton out of Baylor this past April. They will both compete for snaps with Agholor.
Still, Agholor feels more comfortable with the system and his role in the New England organization, as transcribed by Zack Cox of NESN.com.
“The best part about it is Year 2 in the Patriots system is when guys really get going,” Agholor said. “I feel comfortable, and I’m excited to have my best season with the Patriots and show why I’m here.”
“And I know the routes. Because the route tree is unique. I mean, everybody runs certain routes, but the route tree is a little different than what I’ve ran before, and now I know it, so now I get to put my own spin on how we do things and play fast. So I’m just growing, practicing, putting stuff on tape and being comfortable with it — putting my own flavor on what I put on tape. Whereas a year ago, I was learning, so you do things at a certain learning tempo. You never get to just go full speed because you want to make sure you’re doing it right, so you kind of move with caution. Now I know what it looks like and I get to just put my flavor on it.
Agholor will return to a Patriots wide receiver room that includes Jakobi Meyers, the team’s leading receiver last year. He will also get another chance to reunite with quarterback Mac Jones, who is entering his second season.
The stars are aligning for Agholor to have a smoother season, as he looks to become a valuable depth piece for a Patriots wide receiver room that is yearning for a big-time playmaker. With training camp on the horizon, his role on the team remains in question.