Was WR Nelson Agholor Misused in the Patriots Offense (how to fix), or just a Terrible Contract/Signing from the Start?

[DropKickFlutie]

Nelson Agholor was signed by the Patriots for 2 years, $26M. Not the worst contract on the team, unfortunately, given other 2022 albatross cap hits like Jonnu ($50M/4), Wynn ($11m), Godchaux (11M). Agholor put up 37 receptions for 473 yards and 3 TD's in this Patriots offense in 2021, a huge drop from the prior year of 900 yards and 8TD's, as well as below his historical production. One of the worst contracts on the team.

Was Agholor misused this year in the Patriots offense, or was it just a bad signing from the start?

For comparison, in 2020 on the Raiders, Agholor put up 48 receptions for 896 yards and 8TD's (leading the entire league in yards per reception), and also when on the Eagles he put up 2 good years, in 2017 had 62 receptions for 768 yards (8TDs) and in 2018 he put up 64 receptions for 736 yards.

What did minds like Frank Reich, Mike Groh, Gruden, and Greg Olsen figure out about Nelson Agholor on the Raiders and Eagles, that the Patriots offensive staff hasn't figured out yet??

Report: Agholor Joining Patriots on $26 Million Deal

Agholor had career highs in receptions and touchdowns catches in 2020 with the Raiders.

www.si.com

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Mastrodonato: Patriots haven’t utilized expensive free agent signings Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith

If the Pats fall behind early on Saturday against the Bills, it’ll be an opportunity for Mac Jones to get more of his weapons involved.

www.bostonherald.com

 

[Triumph]

I blame McDaniels.

 

[jah]

Just based on yards per catch, it seems like we reverted to the way Philly used him. Still don't think even his best season justified that kind of money.

 

[Schmo]

I go with the cliche that a big part has to do with mac's development. There's a reason he started the season with 80% completion rate games. Agholor, like you said, is a high yds/catch, low catch% receiver. I think the long attempt/ int to him in the endzone in the bills playoff game is a harbinger of the next part of mac's evolution.

He should have a better year next year. Will he be worth the money? That's debatable.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I blame McDaniels.

Interesting. I'll need to look into that.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Just based on yards per catch, it seems like we reverted to the way Philly used him. Still don't think even his best season justified that kind of money.

Philly had him at 2 straight years of almost 800 yards receiving, and 1 year of getting 8 touchdowns? Compared to 470 yards this year. Seems like Agholor is good at a couple things and the Patriots offense did not put him in a position to succeed.

 

[oldrover]

Give Mac an offseason and training camp with him (and the others) and lets see what happens next year.

 

[Steve102]

I blame McDaniels.

 

[TheRainMaker]

He did get a deep pass in the Buffalo playoff game which he didn't help Mac's margin of error by alligator arming it. We need guys with a better catch radius who don't require perfect passes in the bread basket.

 

[‘Mondre]

I go with the cliche that a big part has to do with mac's development. There's a reason he started the season with 80% completion rate games. Agholor, like you said, is a high yds/catch, low catch% receiver. I think the long attempt/ int to him in the endzone in the bills playoff game is a harbinger of the next part of mac's evolution.

He should have a better year next year. Will he be worth the money? That's debatable.

Exactly. Everybody want the deep guy gotta be patient we may already have him.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

.

By whatever do you mean?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Exactly. Everybody want the deep guy gotta be patient we may already have him.

Yeah makes no sense to spend a valuable high draft pick, or scarce free agency money, if we already have the 2020 league leading WR in yards per attempt/reception. It's more a matter of better utilizing what's here.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

He did get a deep pass in the Buffalo playoff game which he didn't help Mac's margin of error by alligator arming it. We need guys with a better catch radius who don't require perfect passes in the bread basket.

It's an interesting thing where how did the Raiders maximize this guy to 900 yards and 8 TDs just the year prior, yet here you have the excuses about execution or blaming the players. I don't buy it

 

[Boomer B]

It's both. He was misused and a terrible signing. Algholor isn't a number 1 or even a 2. He's a 3 and we paid him way to much for how we used him.

The Raiders used him as a down field threat. A guy who was the 3rd option on the Raiders O who primarily ran deep routes for a team that likes to take deep shots. A good role for him. We ran a heavy run oriented scheme with a rookie QB who was asked to get the ball out on time and not make mistakes. We barely took any deep shots.

Algholor is not good enough to be one of the focus's of an offence, he's never been that. Horrible signing.

 

[Sciz]

Just based on yards per catch, it seems like we reverted to the way Philly used him. Still don't think even his best season justified that kind of money.

The attempts were there, as his average depth of target was still in the top 10 deepest in the NFL. They just didn't complete as many long ones, with his average depth of completion falling from 13.9 yards (2nd among qualifiers) to 9.6 (27th).

 

[DropKickFlutie]

The attempts were there, as his average depth of target was still in the top 10 deepest in the NFL. They just didn't complete as many long ones, with his average depth of completion falling from 13.9 yards (2nd among qualifiers) to 9.6 (27th).

Total catches and yards were way down though. Would think that Agholor would enjoy a lot of single man coverage in this offense if they threaten the defense enough with run, play action, and attacking the middle of the field enough ??

 

[Tunescribe]

Aside from the concussion I thought I heard Agholor had nagging injury issues all season. I think the jury's still out on him but I'd like to see him develop more of a physical presence and be more aggressive going for the ball.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It's an interesting thing where how did the Raiders maximize this guy to 900 yards and 8 TDs just the year prior, yet here you have the excuses about execution or blaming the players. I don't buy it

Carr has a better arm which gives Agholor more opportunities.

 

[Toofy]

It's both. He was misused and a terrible signing. Algholor isn't a number 1 or even a 2. He's a 3 and we paid him way to much for how we used him.

The Raiders used him as a down field threat. A guy who was the 3rd option on the Raiders O who primarily ran deep routes for a team that likes to take deep shots. A good role for him. We ran a heavy run oriented scheme with a rookie QB who was asked to get the ball out on time and not make mistakes. We barely took any deep shots.

Algholor is not good enough to be one of the focus's of an offence, he's never been that. Horrible signing.

I think this hits the nail on the head. He does well when he is not a focus. Making him WR1 on a WR2 contract was our stupidity . We tried to be to be too cute and it burnt us real bad. Should have just stuck to Henry and Bourne and did other middling contracts . If wishes were horses .