New England Patriots wide receiver Tre Nixon is trending up after the team's loss to the New York Giants on Thursday, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. After impressing in training camp, Nixon totaled four catches for 81 yards in the preseason opener. When asked about Nixon after the game, head coach Bill Belichick said, "Hard-working kid, tough kid, looking for an opportunity. Nobody works harder than he does. He's one of the hardest working players on the team." That's certainly a glowing report from a coach who values work ethic so highly. The Patriots' receiver room is deep, but so far, Nixon looks like he might sneak onto the roster if the team decides to carry six receivers. As Graff notes, Nixon can help his case by standing out on special teams over the final two preseason games.
New England Patriots wide receiver Tre Nixon spent all of last season on the practice squad, but the seventh-round pick in 2021 has a close bond with second-year quarterback Mac Jones, and he's made an early case this offseason as a player to watch when training camp begins at the end of July. Nixon drove to the stadium every day last year with Jones as they took their COVID-19 tests together before entering the facility. The Patriots already have DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and second-round rookie Tyquan Thornton, but none of them are established receivers in the NFL, so Nixon could make some noise in the pecking order if he plays well during training camp.
With the 242nd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots have selected UCF wide receiver Tre Nixon. Seventh rounders don't see a lot of snaps in the NFL, but the Patriots have an unusually weak receiving group, so maybe Nixon could crack the rotation? He's not the most explosive player in this draft and he had a drop problem in college, but he's a nice route runner who makes some smart decisions. He should be on your dynasty radar, but not too high.
