Nelson Agholor

When Agholor signed with the Ravens, it looked like he had a chance to slot in as a starting receiver. Fast forward two months and the team has brought in both Odell Beckham and first-rounder Zay Flowers. Agholor is entering his ninth season and has trended down since his Las Vegas renaissance in 2020 in which he recorded more receiving yards (896) and touchdowns (eight) than his last two seasons in New England combined. Is there another 2020-esque effort in the tank for Agholor, or are his last two campaigns the true indicator of his current potential? If Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham stay healthy, and if Zay Flowers hits the ground running as a rookie, Agholor may be stuck in a reserve role with a low ceiling on his snap count.

Agholor landed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Patriots last March, but the returns in the first year of that pact were spotty. He finished up the 2021 regular season with 37 catches (on 64 targets) for 473 yards and three TDs in 15 games and was outpaced by fellow wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne. With DeVante Parker now in the mix via a trade with the Dolphins and tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith also candidates to be very active in the passing game, steady volume figures to remain an issue for Agholor - who can line up either out wide or in the slot - this coming season. Additionally, speedster Tyquan Thornton was taken in the second round of the 2022 Draft, though it may take some time for the rookie to emerge as a reliable vertical threat, especially after his collarbone injury this preseason.

The 20th overall pick in 2015, Agholor had an unlikely career resurgence in Las Vegas last year, emerging midseason as the Raiders' top wideout. Agholor finished with eight TDs on only 82 targets, five catches of 40-plus yards, 18.7 YPC (1st among the league's 80-target WR) and 10.9 YPT (2nd). At 6-0, 198, Agholor has only average size, and good speed (4.42 40). But he's made plays downfield throughout his erratic career, and 2020 was the second time he scored eight touchdowns on fewer than 100 targets. Agholor's performance was apparently enough for Bill Belichick, who signed the 28-year-old to a two-year, $26 million deal, and he should be Mac Jones' top target, now that Julian Edelman has retired. But the team also signed wideout Kendrick Bourne as well as tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, and the Patriots don't figure to be a high-volume passing team.

Agholor caught less than 40 passes in three of five seasons with the Eagles, who made him the 20th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft before the USC product became the subject of internet memes due to his drop issues. A one-year, $1.05M contract from the Raiders this offseason proves just how far Agholor has fallen in the eyes of roster builders around the league. He's now slated to face off against rookie Bryan Edwards for the No. 4 spot at receiver behind Tyrell Williams, Henry Ruggs and Hunter Renfrow, though Agholor also has a shot at earning the punt-return role.

The 2015 first-rounder has carved out a bigger role the last two seasons with an average of 96 targets, most from the slot. At 6-0, 198, and with a 4.42 40 time, Agholor has average size and good speed and quickness, but his role limits his upside. While he did have five catches of 40-plus yards despite modest volume, his average depth of target (10.3) makes a repeat of the downfield success unlikely. Moreover, despite the big plays, Agholor managed only 7.6 YPT and 11.5 YPC. He also sees some work in the red zone (seven looks inside the 10), but he converted only two of those for scores, and he'll take a back seat to Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery in that department. Finally, the Eagles brought in veteran speedster DeSean Jackson this offseason, and while Jackson and Agholor run different routes, it's roughly another 100 of Carson Wentz's targets that won't be going to Agholor.

A 2015 first-rounder left for dead, Agholor kick-started his career in 2017 as a key cog in the Eagles' multifaceted attack. Playing opposite Alshon Jeffery and sharing the field with end-zone target Zach Ertz, Agholor still managed to score eight times on only 95 targets, thanks in part to nine looks inside the 10 (T-9th). At 6-0, 198, Agholor has only average size, but he's fast (4.42 40), quick and agile, capable of making highlight-reel spins out of tackles for big plays. And while Agholor is still the team's third option, the difference between his role and Jeffery's is maybe 25 targets, i.e., he's more like option 1C on a wide tree. Still only 25, Agholor could improve coming off his first season with significant production. Carson Wentz should eventually be healthy, Torrey Smith is gone and Jeffery hasn't been a paragon of durability during his career. But we get the feeling that no matter the roster composition, coach Doug Pederson will continue to be creative and spread the ball around, and the Eagles added speedster Mike Wallace to replace Smith. Any expansion of Agholor's role likely will be minor.

A first-round pick out of USC in 2015, Agholor has failed to live up to his potential thus far in his NFL career, hauling in just 36 receptions for 365 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. However, he's drawn impressive reviews in training camp and could turn a new leaf in the wake of Jordan Matthews' relocation to Buffalo. As it stands, Agholor's now the favorite to open the 2017 season as the starting slot receiver, though he'll need to continue to fend off rookie Mack Hollins for reps.

Injuries, lack of opportunity and poor quarterback play derailed Agholor's rookie year, but he should get more chances in 2016. At 6-0, 198, Agholor has only average size, but he ran a 4.42 40, and is quicker than he is fast. He's a precise route runner with good hands and a knack for getting open when the play breaks down. He'll still be handicapped by average-at-best quarterback play from Sam Bradford and rookie Carson Wentz, and there's more competition for looks (Rueben Randle was added to Jordan Matthews, Brent Celek and Zach Ertz.) But there's no dominant established No. 1 receiver, and we have to believe the Eagles will want to see what they have in last year's first-round pick.

Among the six receivers taken in the first-round of this year's draft, Agholor might have found the best landing spot. While Jordan Matthews is likely to be the team's top target, Agholor only needs to beat out the uninspiring Riley Cooper, injury-plagued 31-year-old Miles Austin and last year's third-rounder, Josh Huff, to be the team's second option. At 6-0, 198, Agholor has only average size, but he ran a 4.42 40, and is quicker than he is fast. He's a precise route runner with good hands and a knack for getting open when the play breaks down. While the combination of Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez isn't ideal, playing in Chip Kelly's up-tempo offense should ensure a good baseline of passing attempts and scoring opportunities.