Nelson Agholor, Jalen Mills discuss time spent with Eagles: ‘Iron sharpens iron’
The New England Patriots roster will be full of unfamiliar players following their free agency splurge.
Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Matthew Judon, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jalen Mills and Davon Godchaux are just some of the names that are entering Foxborough for the first time. Fortunately the Patriots still have leaders in Devin McCourty, Dont’a Hightower and James White to help make the transition easier.
Agholor and Mills came from different teams this offseason, but there’s much familiarity between the two. The wide receiver and defensive back spent four seasons together with the Philadelphia Eagles and they battled back and forth on the practice field throughout that time.
Both players discussed their time together during their introductory calls and had nothing but positive things to say.
“I like him a lot. I think he’s a very, very talented player and also an ultimate competitor. So, I’m excited for him to be here with us,” Agholor said, via Pats Pulpit’s Bernd Buchmasser.
Agholor had a slow start with the Eagles, but his ascension came the season after Mills was drafted. The speedy receiver collected 768 yards for eight touchdowns in his third season and 736 yards for four touchdowns in his fourth season. Because the highly-touted Mills joined the team during Agholor’s rise, it led to some fiery competition in practice.
“Me and Nelson, we had some battles. I’m talking about, in camp, real steamy battles until we were going at it with each other. But at the end of the day, that’s what you want,” Mills said.
“You know it’s not going to be every day you can dominate him. Me, I want a guy who’s going to be able to challenge me. One day I get him, the next day he gets me. And it just goes on and on. You know that saying, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ And that’s what you want because at the end of the day it’s all about having that guy in front of you getting you ready to be able to perform at a high level on Sunday.”
The Patriots signed Agholor on a two-year, $22 million deal and they inked Mills on a four-year, $24 million deal. Both players are young with a ton of upside under Bill Belichick’s command and they both have the familiarity to feel at comfort right away when they get to work.
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