It's almost time for football. On July 19th, New England Patriots rookies will report to Gillette Stadium for training camp. Three days later, on the 22nd, their veteran counterparts will join them. After a dream offseason in which the Patriots may have found their coach of the future and acquired talent up and down the roster, expectations are higher in New England.
The team has been making the final touches to its 90-man roster ahead of training camp, and there are plenty of storylines to watch leading up to the Week 1 game against the Raiders. The biggest questions surround the Pats' receiving room, including which young wideout will leave the biggest mark in camp? And could a veteran fan favorite get cut?
These questions will have answers in a few weeks. But for now, let's check up on how former Patriots are doing these days. Among the many that have found new homes this offseason, that has not been the case for wideout Nelson Agholor.
Former Patriots WR Nelson Agholor Waiting for Opportunity Heading into Training Camp
Coming off a career-best year in 2020 with the Raiders, the Patriots signed Agholor to a 2-year, $26 million contract during free agency in 2021. After posting career highs in receiving yards (896) and touchdowns (8) in his lone season with Las Vegas, Agholor couldn't replicate the same success with Mac Jones and the Patriots.
Before his two-year tenure with the Patriots, fans knew him best from Super Bowl 52, as his Eagles defeated New England, 41-33, to capture their first title in franchise history. In that high-scoring affair, Agholor tallied 9 receptions for 84 yards.
When the former USC Trojan joined the Patriots nearly three years later, that marked the beginning of a decline in production. In his first season with New England in 2021, Agholor hauled in 37 catches for 473 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots earned a playoff berth in Mac Jones' rookie season.
In his second and final season at age 29 with the Pats, Agholor saw a decline in all three receiving categories, ultimately leading to the end of his time with New England. Since his departure in the 2022 offseason, Agholor has signed a pair of one-year deals with the Baltimore Ravens.
The former 2015 first-round pick appeared in 31 games for the Ravens, finishing with 49 receptions, 612 yards, and six touchdowns across two seasons. He wasn't retained by the team this past offseason.
As a receiver who mainly relies on speed, Agholor seems to have lost a step entering his age-32 season. NFL front offices are taking notes of this, and many of the reasons why he hasn't found a new team. With camp approaching and injuries always a factor during the grueling season, Agholor may not have to wait long before receiving a call and returning for his 11th season.
Agholor joins Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper on a short list of notable veteran wideouts still without a job days before training camp begins. Knowing the Patriots added Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams into their already crowded receiver room this offseason, they will probably stay away from adding any of these veteran pass catchers.