Nelson Agholor looking to be ‘something special’ for Patriots in 2022
As a part of the New England Patriots spending spree in 2021, veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor took the money and didn’t exactly run during the season.
In other words, he didn’t exactly live up to the two-year, $26 million deal signed after a breakout season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. While he wasn’t the only free agent addition who didn’t live up to the hype, Agholor will have an opportunity to make it up in 2022 and if he does so, perhaps his production will make up for the lack of spending in free agency in 2022.
It seems like the Patriots are counting on that or hoping for that as the only additions at the wide receiver position was a trade for Devante Parker and selecting Tyquan Thornton in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
New England Patriots veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor just needs to play fast
While there are still a couple intriguing free agent wide receivers out there, like Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones, a bounce back season for Agholor could be a blessing in disguise for a Patriots offense depending on a second-year leap by quarterback Mac Jones. That would involve more explosive playmakers around him. Agholor has the ability when he plays fast, which is something he hopes to change in 2022.
"“I think I’m at my best when I just have fun, play fast,” Agholor said, via WEEI. “A lot of people have different ways of carrying motivation, they carry a chip on their shoulder and things like that. I’m a competitor naturally. I love to compete. I love to play the game. When I have fun with the game, and I have fun with the guys and play hard and practice hard I do really well. So I’m in a really happy place and super excited about the work that’s coming from being in that happy place and the growth that’s coming from it. So my motivation is to make it a memorable season with the team and the guys that I play alongside with and let it be something special.”"
With just 37 catches for 473 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the Patriots, it’s fair to say he didn’t put up $26 million numbers, but if he can just double that production in 2022, he would add more value to the mix of playmakers Jones has to throw to, which includes the tight end duo of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith along with Parker, Thornton, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers and yes, N’Keal Harry (although his days in a Patriots uniform are numbered).
Want your voice heard? Join the Chowder And Champions team!
Where Agholor fits in the offense will obviously depend on training camp competition, but also the chemistry he continues to build with Mac Jones. Despite the lack of production, there were a couple of deep connections between the two that could get even better the more comfortable they become with one another. So add familiarity to playing fast as two adjustments the Patriots veteran receiver knows he has to make in 2022.
"“For me it’s familiarity first with the concepts,” Agholor said in response to building chemistry with Mac Jones. “Familiarity with how we do things, whether it’s scheduling, training, all those things. And being more in the routine. I think it helps that I’m familiar with the environment, familiar with my coaching staff in terms of people in this building, strength staff, training staff. And I know the routes. Because the route tree is unique. Everybody runs certain routes, but the routes tree is a little different than what I ran before. Now I know it, so I get to put my own spin on how we do things and play fast.”"
Agholor went on to say that he hopes to build on what he calls a year of learning with the New England Patriots and translate that into something special this upcoming season. If he does that and produce, it would be a bonus for the Patriots’ offense at this point.
Next. New England Patriots: Top 5 wide receivers in franchise history. dark
In all, it sounds like Nelson Agholor has more to prove to himself than what is expected of him on the field. Yes, part of that is living up to the money.