Tag: Nelson Agholor

Report: Julio Jones wants to play with ex-Panthers QB Cam Newton

Very few players have experienced Cam Newton from afar like Julio Jones.

Very few players have experienced Cam Newton from afar like Julio Jones.

From watching his Alabama Crimson Tide blow a 24-point lead to Newton’s Auburn Tigers in an SEC classic in 2010, to being drafted sixth overall on the very same night Cam went No. 1 and to the decade’s worth of divisional battles between their Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, Jones has had quite the view of the superstar quarterback. Now, he may want him to be his quarterback.

On Thursday, NBC Sports Boston’s Michael Holley reported that Jones would like to team up with Newton in New England. The five-time All-Pro wideout has recently been the subject of trade talks, as the Falcons have fielded calls regarding a potential divorce in hopes of clearing up cap space.

According to Holley, he has heard that Jones wants to play with Newton as the Patriots look to keep on retooling following a disappointing 7-9 campaign a year ago.

“You know who he really wants to play with? You won’t believe this. I heard this today, I said ‘Are you kidding me?’ He wants to play with Cam Newton,” Holley said. “He likes Cam.”

Holley also noted that Jones has concerns about his longtime quarterback Matt Ryan, claiming the receiver thinks the 36-year-old has “lost a little zing on his deep ball.”

Ryan slander aside, who would’ve thought this connection could ever be possible, at least a handful of seasons ago? Two of the greatest players of the Panthers and Falcons franchises, respectively, joining forces as Patriots. Actually, sounds exactly like something the evil Bill Belichick would do!

Belichick has also done a bang-up job this offseason of giving Newton some much needed help around him, something he definitely didn’t have in 2020. Thanks to a splurge in free agency, he’ll have some brand new, actually capable targets to throw to including tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry and receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.

Adding one of the most freakishly talented players in NFL history would certainly be one hell of a cherry on top. And even in the latter half of his career at age 32, Jones still has more than enough left to help make the Patriots the Patriots again.

[vertical-gallery id=636932]

Nelson Agholor expects Josh McDaniels to highlight his versatility

“I think Coach McDaniels historically has done a great job with moving his receivers around.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby79hc76t2s390 player_id=none image=https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor expects offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to highlight his versatility.

Agholor spent time working in the slot and playing outside during his six NFL seasons. He has scored as many touchdowns on catches in the red zone as he has with catches from outside the end zone. He’s a scoring threat from everywhere on the field. It’s easy to see McDaniels getting creative with the wideout, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal this offseason that will pay him more per year than any other receiver on the roster.

“I am just comfortable going out there executing concepts,” he said during an introductory press conference in March. “I like to be able to move around depending on scenario, or situation or routes that need to be executed. I think Coach McDaniels historically has done a great job with moving his receivers around, and I am excited for that opportunity.”

Does Agholor feel he’ll be the No. 1 option in the offense?

“I think everyone else can have a label on however they look at me, but I know that on the field I give myself and my teammates a great opportunity to make plays and win,” he said.

It’s clear Agholor is a big part of the Patriots’ plan as they revamp their passing offense. He and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry will play a big part in improving New England’s passing offense, which cratered in 2020 after the departure of quarterback Tom Brady to Tampa Bay.

[listicle id=104126]

Eagles have spent the 4th most NFL draft capital on WR position in last decade

Eagles have spent the 4th most NFL draft capital on WR position in the last decade

As the Eagles prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, all eyes are on Howie Roseman and what he’ll likely do with the 12th overall pick.

Philadelphia has been linked to the top wide receivers in the draft with the growing narrative that the Eagles general manager can’t blow another opportunity to add a game-changing skill player.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus unveiled a revealing stat that shows just how inept Philadelphia has been at evaluating the wide receiver position.

Over the past decade, Philadelphia has spent the fourth most draft capital on the wide receiver position.

The impact from that haul can be debated and we break down the Eagles draft picks from the last decade.

Nelson Agholor expresses faith in QB Cam Newton: ‘He’s a league MVP for a reason’

Here’s what the WR said about his QB and OC.

Nelson Agholor is stepping into a fairly uncertain situation with the New England Patriots, who re-signed their 2020 starting quarterback Cam Newton to a one-year deal before free agency opened. It’s hardly certain he’ll be the starter, with quarterback Jarrett Stidham set to compete for the job and New England still seemingly searching for more options at the position, whether through the trade market or in the draft.

But Agholor, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal with New England this offseason, seems excited to get to play with Newton in 2021.

“Cam Newton is a great quarterback,” Agholor told reporters during an introductory press conference in March. “He’s a league MVP for a reason, and I know he can do whatever needs to be done. For me, it’s just about practicing with him. I’m just excited. I’m excited to work with him. I’m excited to grow. I know he’s going to push me. I also feel like (offensive coordinator Josh) McDaniels is going to put us in position.”

Since speaking on Newton in March, the two players have practiced together on the field during a workout that Stidham organized in L.A.

Barring an unforeseen addition, Agholor will be the highest-paid receiving option in New England, which means he’s also expected to be the No. 1 wideout above Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and N’Keal Harry, among others. Agholor will work with fellow free agent signings Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, who also figure to be centerpieces in the passing offense.

[listicle id=104126]

Nelson Agholor, Jalen Mills discuss time spent with Eagles: ‘Iron sharpens iron’

Jalen Mills and Nelson Agholor spent four seasons battling each other during practice with the Eagles.

The New England Patriots roster will be full of unfamiliar players following their free agency splurge.

Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Matthew Judon, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jalen Mills and Davon Godchaux are just some of the names that are entering Foxborough for the first time. Fortunately the Patriots still have leaders in Devin McCourty, Dont’a Hightower and James White to help make the transition easier.

Agholor and Mills came from different teams this offseason, but there’s much familiarity between the two. The wide receiver and defensive back spent four seasons together with the Philadelphia Eagles and they battled back and forth on the practice field throughout that time.

Both players discussed their time together during their introductory calls and had nothing but positive things to say.

“I like him a lot. I think he’s a very, very talented player and also an ultimate competitor. So, I’m excited for him to be here with us,” Agholor said, via Pats Pulpit’s Bernd Buchmasser.

Agholor had a slow start with the Eagles, but his ascension came the season after Mills was drafted. The speedy receiver collected 768 yards for eight touchdowns in his third season and 736 yards for four touchdowns in his fourth season. Because the highly-touted Mills joined the team during Agholor’s rise, it led to some fiery competition in practice.

“Me and Nelson, we had some battles. I’m talking about, in camp, real steamy battles until we were going at it with each other. But at the end of the day, that’s what you want,” Mills said.

“You know it’s not going to be every day you can dominate him. Me, I want a guy who’s going to be able to challenge me. One day I get him, the next day he gets me. And it just goes on and on. You know that saying, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ And that’s what you want because at the end of the day it’s all about having that guy in front of you getting you ready to be able to perform at a high level on Sunday.”

The Patriots signed Agholor on a two-year, $22 million deal and they inked Mills on a four-year, $24 million deal. Both players are young with a ton of upside under Bill Belichick’s command and they both have the familiarity to feel at comfort right away when they get to work.

[listicle id=103968]

ESPN analyst says Patriots had the ‘most head-scratching move’ of free agency

His logic isn’t terrible on this one.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby79hc76t2s390 player_id=none image=https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The New England Patriots made the most headlines during the first week of free agency without question.

Typically, Bill Belichick stays quiet at the beginning of free agency and he makes his moves when the dust settles. Without Tom Brady at the helm and with a ton of money at Belichick’s disposal, he played it differently this season. New England immediately spent big money on Jonnu Smith, Matthew Judon and Hunter Henry. The Patriots also were uncharacteristic in giving big contracts to wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.

New England signed Agholor on a two-year deal that could be worth up to $24 million, with $7 million due in 2021 and $15 million in 2022. The 27-year-old is coming off his best season with 48 catches for 896 yards and eight touchdowns. Bourne signed a three-year deal for $22.5 million and he’s coming off his best season with 49 catches for 667 yards and two touchdowns.

ESPN analyst Mike Clay believes the Patriots made the ‘most head-scratching’ move of free agency.

The Patriots overpaying role-playing wide receivers. Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne are fine No. 3 or No. 4 options on most teams. But New England seemed to misjudge a soft wide receiver market by committing $16 million to the inconsistent Agholor (more than Will Fuller V and Marvin Jones Jr.earned, among others) and $5 million to Bourne (more than John Brown, Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams agreed to, among others).

Considering the players the Patriots could’ve targeted for these prices, it’s really difficult to believe Agholor and Bourne were the best players available. But, now it’s up to Belichick and Josh McDaniels to prove why they have one of the best coaching staffs in the business.

[vertical-gallery id=103451]

TE Hunter Henry and WR Nelson Agholor give Patriots indefensible potential

With the additions of Hunter Henry and Nelson Agholor, the Patriots can make life very tough for opposing defenses.

When looking at the Patriots’ impending free agents, you can spin it one of two ways: Either Bill Belichick is “overspending” to cover up mistakes he’s made in the draft, or he’s reacting to what was essentially a waste year in 2020 by loading up at positions of need. I tend to err on the latter, especially when it comes to two of those players.

When the new league year turns over at 4:00 p.m. ET, former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry and former Eagles and Raiders receiver Nelson Agholor will officially become members of the Patriots’ offense, and that’s part of an overhaul of Cam Newton’s targets (or the targets of whoever is Belichick’s starting quarterback in 2021) that also includes ex-Titans tight end Jonnu Smith, and ex-49ers wideout Kendrick Bourne.

It’s an interesting assemblage for a team that had precocious little in the way of target talent, and the combination of Henry and Smith will allow Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to run their preferred two-tight end sets. Last season, with Devin Asiasi and Ryan Izzo as their primary tight ends, New England ran formations with two tight ends on just eight dropbacks all season. To put that in perspective, the Bills were second-lowest with 33 such dropbacks, and 18 different teams had more than 100 dropbacks with two tight ends in 2021.

Clearly, Belichick wants his team to be one of them in 2021 and beyond.

But for the purposes of this piece, let’s take a look at Henry and Agholor, and how they can combine forces to present one of the toughest formations and concepts to defend: The 3-by-1 set in which the tight end is the isolated receiver to the back side, and the speed receiver is the inside slot man to the front side. The Chiefs have been killing defenses with this, and while it helps when your tight end is Travis Kelce and your speed slot man is Tyreek Hill, there are specific reasons this idea can work for any team with the right personnel.

Why is this thing so illegal? Well, in the case of the Chiefs, especially when Hill runs the deep over route to the front side, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to get a linebacker on Hill, which is an epic mismatch at the best of times. And if the target is Kelce — the “Y iso,” if you don’t bracket him, or if you don’t have a dominant cover linebacker like Lavonte David of the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, you’ve got issues in that your cornerbacks aren’t going to “out-physical” Kelce, your linebackers aren’t quick enough, and your safeties probably won’t get to him in time. Kelce’s pivot route above against Browns cornerback Denzel Ward — one of the best players at his position — is just nasty.

How does this apply to the Patriots? Well, they used to run various “Y-iso” packages when they had Rob Gronkowski to put on the back side, and quick slot guys like Wes Welker and Julian Edelman on the inside to trips. Henry isn’t Gronk, but when he’s healthy, he’s proven able to fill that role quite well.

On this 10-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert in Week 13 against the Raiders, Henry is lined up backside, detached from the formation, with trips to the front side, and Oakland’s defense can’t answer it. Henry just boxes cornerback Keisean Nixon off the screen, and it’s touchdown time. He’ll do that all day.

And on this 21-yard touchdown against the Colts in Week 14 for those very same Raiders, Agholor has the inside slot, and just burns through the middle of Indianapolis’ defense. Agholor led the Raiders in slot touchdowns last season with three, and he was also the team’s most productive deep receiver. Per Pro Football Focus, Agholor had 11 catches on 23 targets of 20 or more air yards for 444 yards and six touchdowns. Not quite on Hill’s level, but a lot closer than you may think. Last season, Hill had 13 deep catches on 33 targets for 475 yards and eight touchdowns.

So, the Patriots have the parts that fit, they have the history with it, and one suspects that when the 2021 season begins, they’ll not only match that eight dropbacks with two tight ends last season in the first quarter alone, but also that they’ll frequently try to vex defenses with the most indefensible formation in the NFL today.

Every player the Patriots have signed so far in free agency

List of players the New England Patriots have signed in free agency, including Matthew Judon, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith.

No NFL team has been more active than the New England Patriots since the legal tampering period opened on Monday.

Been a bit hard to keep up with all the players the Pats have agreed to terms with, right? What about those couple that skipped town?

Get yourself caught up right here.

Every player the Pats have added this week, and the few who have departed New England, right here:

The five worst deals handed out on the first day of NFL free agency

It wasn’t as crazy as other years, but there were still some questionable contracts offered.

We knew this NFL offseason was going to be different, and that’s already proven to be the case. And, no, I’m not just saying that because the Patriots and Bill Belichick are throwing around money like the salary cap doesn’t exist. I’m saying that because there weren’t a lot of obviously egregious deals handed out on the first day of the legal tampering period.

Typically, this post is much easier to write. But this time around, I had to scroll up and down our free agency tracker (in which we’ve analyzed every major deal!) to pick out five moves that I didn’t like all that much. And I’m not even too down on any of the ones I’ll criticize here.

So, um, good job, NFL general managers!

Well, not the ones who agreed to these five deals I picked out as the worst moves of the day…

Instant analysis of Patriots agreeing to terms with WRs Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne

Weapons!

The New England Patriots clearly acknowledged they had a problem at receiver, with a huge effort to bring in talent at the position on the first day of the tampering window.

New England agreed to terms on contracts with speedster Nelson Agholor, who averaged 18.7 yards per carry in 2020, and possession receiver Kendrick Bourne, who averaged an impressive 2.8 yards of separation, per NextGen Stats tracking data. The deals can become official on March 17 when the league year opens. To make things even more wild, the Patriots added one of the best tight ends — if not the best — on the market in Jonnu Smith. Whether the Patriots start Cam Newton or someone else at quarterback, he will have a much-improved arsenal of weapons.

After finishing with the third yards per game and the fewest passing touchdowns in 2020, the Patriots wanted to do everything they could to support their 2021 quarterback(s). At this point, Newton is the favorite to start, but his deal with New England indicates the Patriots view him as a potential backup. They certainly could continue to look for another option (Looking at you, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tyrod Taylor and Jacoby Brissett).

Regardless, with Agholor to provide the big play and large group of players to attack the middle of the field and get open for intermediate passes (Smith, Bourne, Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers), the Patriots have a much more talented and diverse group of skill players for 2020. They won’t find themselves giving a player like Damiere Byrd a healthy number of snaps (89% of offensive snaps) while getting brutally inefficient production: 47 catches, 604 yards and one touchdown.

The only complication for New England is that they may have bought high on both players. They are coming off the best seasons of their career. It’s fair to wonder whether the Patriots might have overpaid for players who were hot commodities. And it’s fair to wonder whether they can continue that success in a complicated New England offense without a clear plan at signal-caller.

[vertical-gallery id=103081]