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With their final selection of the 2021 draft, the Patriots drafted wide receiver Tre Nixon out of the University of Central Flordia. Nixon, who spent last season on the practice squad without a roster elevation, looks to join an already crowded receiver room.
Nixon, who was all over headlines after mandatory minicamp in the spring, is trying to fight for playing time this season. Although the Patriots traded for outside wideout threat Devante Parker, there could still be a 6th spot up for grabs. The Patriots see Nixon as a pure slot receiver, meaning he will fight for reps behind Meyers, Bourne, and Ahghlor. Nixon is also looking to get stronger on special teams, knowing that will make him valuable. In his weekly press conference, Belichick told the media, “He’s one of the hardest-working kids we have on our team. He had a good spring, had a productive spring.” Press Conference
Tre’s only receptions came in the last pre-season game versus New York will look to be different this time around in the pre-season and try to stand out. Nixon ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.81 seconds at his pro day after his college season was limited to four starts due to a broken collarbone.
The Patriots currently have ten receivers on their roster DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, Tre Nixon, Josh Hammond, Kristian Wilkerson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Ty Montgomery. In the past, the magic number for the Patriots was six receivers making the roster, aside from last year when they kept five. There are already five players who are seen as locks to make the roster: Parker, Meyers, Bourne, Agholor, and Thornton. That gives one spot to fight over for five guys. Although it helps that Montgomery is seen as a flex player and could get a halfback spot.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.