Instant analysis of Patriots drafting Tre Nixon in the 7th round
In what was considered a pretty deep draft at the position, Bill Belichick waited until the seventh round to draft a wide receiver when he selected Tre Nixon out of Central Florida with the 242nd overall pick.
Nixon missed six games in 2020 due to a shoulder injury, but he was able to put up 290 yards and two touchdowns on 19 receptions in his final season with the Knights. In his final complete season in 2019, he had 49 catches for 830 yards and seven touchdowns.
The 6-foot, 187-pound wideout showed pretty solid footwork and speed during his time in college, but his hands weren’t always the best which could be an issue at the next level.
Here’s what Lance Zuerlein had to say about the 23-year-old on NFL.com:
“Dangerous three-level talent with speed and short-area athleticism to play inside or outside as a pro. Nixon had impressive flashes over his first two seasons at UCF before playing in just four games this past year due to a shoulder injury. His play strength and hands are both in need of work in order for him to be considered a trustworthy option for play callers and quarterbacks. He has the juice to win foot races deep and displays enough route-running potential to uncover against pro coverage on the first and second levels. Nixon offers intriguing value as a potential Day 3 selection with WR3 talent.”
With comparisons to Robby Anderson and some mocks having him go as high as the fifth round, the Patriots may have gotten a pretty decent value on Nixon.
Watching his college tape, it’s evident that Nixon can separate from defenders, something many noticed was missing from N’Keal Harry’s highlight tape just two years ago. If the Patriots’ offense is going to be successful, no matter who the quarterback is, the receivers have to get open, and Nixon can do that.
New England doesn’t have the best group of weapons in the wide receiver room despite adding Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor this offseason. So, while it’s far from a guarantee that a seventh-round pick makes the team, Nixon may have a better chance than most.
