Patriots news & rumors: Agholor talks big drop; Phillip Lindsay trade buzz
What if New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor caught a slant pass over the middle in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys?
Well, the Patriots may be sitting at 3-3 instead of 2-4, but that is just how the season has gone so far for the team who is a few missed plays and mistakes away from 5-1.
Frustrating? Yeah…but imagine being one of the players with the missed opportunities.
Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor and the catch that got away
Known for his drops, Agholor came to the Patriots with that reputation and on Sunday, it played out as that dropped pass at least caused Mac Jones and the offense from being in good position to score some points on the opening drive in overtime.
"“I’m mad about that one,” Agholor said Thursday, as transcribed by WEEI. “Don’t really want to talk about it. I think part of me got a little eager — got a little eager, peaking ahead a little bit. I just wasn’t in the moment. I didn’t keep my eyes on it, kind of peaking ahead and it’s over with. But, got a little eager. I can learn from that. Just stay in the moment, even in overtime. Just move the chains. Catch it first and go from there.”"
While Agholor hasn’t been terrible in this debut season with the Patriots, he also hasn’t lived up to the big money he signed for so far this season. With 17 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown through the first six games, drops like the one he had against the Cowboys will continue to be highlighted until he starts making the kind of plays he made with the Las Vegas Raiders a season ago.
NFL rumors: Patriots should trade for Phillip Lindsay
Will the New England Patriots be buyers or sellers at the NFL Trade Deadline?
With a 2-4 record, the team is certainly on that border, but given how they played against teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, Bill Belichick may look at this team and feel they are a player or two away from really putting it all together.
Of course, much of whether they become buyers will hinge on winning the Game 7 matchup against the New York Jets. If they somehow lose and drop to 2-5, the approach may change.
One name to watch is former Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay.
With the Houston Texans going no where this season, dealing Lindsay for a late-round draft pick is plausible. Given the Patriots have some running back depth issues and ball security issues, Lindsay seems like the perfect running back to come in and revive his career in Foxborough.
Lindsay signed a one-year deal with the Texans in the offseason, so trading for him would be a rental unless he really shines in the Patriots offense. This would be a low-risk, high-reward type deal for Belichick who could add the talented Lindsay to a backfield of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson.
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Lindsay has just 89 yards on 36 attempts in 2021, but he is just a couple seasons removed from rushing for over 1,000 yards with the Denver Broncos in 2019. With an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, the 27-year-old running back seems almost too perfect for the Patriots’ offense and a potential replacement for James White who was lost for the season.
Make it happen Bill.