How will the New England Patriots wide receiver group look in 2022?
After finally trading 2019 first round bust N’Keal Harry, the Patriots will have an interesting group of receivers for Mac Jones to throw to.
Although there is no true No. 1 star receiver heading into the season, the Patriots have an intriguing group of receivers who have different skillsets. From the blazing speed of 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton to the versatility of Kendrick Bourne, there will be options from a group of receivers who may be underrated around the NFL.
The New England Patriots have an interesting group of receivers heading into training camp
Along with Bourne and Thornton, the New England Patriots acquired veteran wide receiver DeVante Parker from the Miami Dolphins. They also have Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers who figure to be prime contributors in 2022.
There is also a group of wide receivers looking to make the 53-man roster. Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Tre Nixon, Malcolm Perry, Kristian Wilkerson and Ty Montgomery are players who are looking to show they deserve to be on that wide receiver depth chart come season opener.
The competition amongst this group will make training camp very interesting, but three wide receivers stand out as intriguing players to watch within the wide receiver group and each for different reasons.
Amongst the reasons to keep an eye on these three players in training camp is how each player connects with Mac Jones within their skillsets. Let’s take a look at the 3 most intriguing receivers to watch during 2022 NFL Training Camp.
New England Patriots have a “Grinder” in Tre Nixon
There is always intrigue when it comes to late-round picks or undrafted free agents emerging to steal a roster spot. In 2022, that player will be New England Patriots 2021 seventh-round pick Tre Nixon.
After spending his entire rookie season on the practice squad, the wide receiver out of the University of Central Florida really stood out during minicamp this spring looking like he will be a player who will challenge for a roster spot.
At 6-foot-2, Nixon played just four games in his final season at Central Florida in 2020. In that season he caught 19 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the year prior that really showcased his potential. In 2019, Nixon caught 49 passes for 830 yards and seven touchdowns, which may have made him a higher draft pick if he put up similar numbers in 2020.
It was just minicamp, but the connection he showed with Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is encouraging and on a team with no true slot receiver, Nixon could work his way on the roster to fill that void. The advantage he does have is the chemistry formed with Jones who applauded the second-year receiver during minicamp.
"“Tre came in with me,” Jones said, as transcribed by NESN.com. “We used to drive to the facility every day together last year and then take our COVID test and go to work. He’s a grinder. In the offseason, he’s there with all the guys at the throwing sessions. I don’t think he missed a single one, and he’s been grinding. He needs to continue to do that just like everybody else.”"
The question now is can Tre Nixon take that minicamp hype with him into training camp and beyond. Will his progression and work ethic push a veteran like Nelson Agholor? Definitely a player Patriots fans should watch and root for heading into training camp.
New England Patriots have electrifying speed in Tyquan Thornton
Top draft picks are always fun to watch during training camp, but when it is a wide receiver selected high in the draft by Bill Belichick the spotlight shines brighter.
With blazing fast speed, second-round pick Tyquan Thornton could either be the next Bethel Johnson or Chad Jackson or perhaps Belichick hit on a receiver. Out to prove he’s more than a one-trick pony, Thornton brings the type of speed the Patriots are looking for on the outside, but there is more to the rookie wide receiver says draft analyst E.J. Snyder.
During an appearance on the “1st and Foxborough” podcast, Snyder gave Patriots fans something else to get excited about when it comes to Thornton and that is his toughness.
Despite his slender build, there is some dog in the latest Patriots top rookie receiver and during the dog days of August, you should be paying attention.
"“We got to see a lot of him during Shrine Bowl Week,” Synder said, as transcribed by WEEI. “very slightly built athlete, especially from the waist down. Very, very thin, and he wasn’t the only one like there. …And automatically your brain starts saying, ‘Okay, he’s fast. He’s got pretty good hands. He’s not going to be a great contested catcher. He just doesn’t have the girth to go up against more physical defensive backs.’ “Baloney. Tyquan Thornton is a dog with the ball in the air. I was really surprised by that in his game because his frame doesn’t really belie that. But in drills, he didn’t give an inch to anybody, and he won most of those jump balls.”"
While the N’Keal Harry saga will give Patriots fans cause to pause when it comes to wide receivers taken high in the draft, Thornton could be a winner. With his speed and toughness on the outside, he at least gives Mac Jones an intriguing target down-the-field.
In fact, if the quarterback and receiver form chemistry in training camp, this could be an electrifying combo. But it does start in training camp and all eyes are on Tyquan Thornton.
Can DeVante Parker be that guy for the New England Patriots?
If the New England Patriots get the 2019 healthy version of DeVante Parker, then Mac Jones will have a top weapon he can depend on. Even if they get the Parker who put up 793 receiving yards in 2020, he will upgrade the offense.
As excited as the veteran receiver is to join the Patriots, he will need to both stay healthy and learn a more simplified playbook to be the factor he hopes to be in New England.
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According to NFL analyst Mike Tannenbaum, the Patriots are getting the playmaker they have been missing as long as health isn’t a concern and that is a major if so, far during his NFL career.
"“You’re getting someone who can win on the outside,” Tannenbaum told ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Big catch radius and good at high-pointing the ball. Really effective with in-breaking routes and in the red zone. He’s a very likeable, fun-loving person who is a great teammate – always smiling, never had a bad day. “Injuries have been a problem, and you just hope he can put it together for 17 games. I wouldn’t say his play speed is elite, but (if healthy) he’s a very good starting NFL receiver who can be scoring eight to 12 touchdowns and making contested catches.”"
Parker has looked more like an All-Pro receiver against the Patriots, which is why Bill Belichick went out and traded for him. But, if he brings the high spirit to the locker room and sidelines that Tannenbaum is talking about, his value to the team and Mac Jones will be even higher if he is also producing the type of numbers he put up in 2019 and 2020 with the Miami Dolphins.
In conclusion, although a veteran, DeVante Parker is an intriguing player to watch in training camp to see what kind of chemistry he forms with Jones. Also, just seeing how he looks in a Patriots’ uniform after years of torching them will be intriguing in its own.