Patriots give former first-round WR another chance to turn career around

News of the former 21st overall pick joining the Patriots broke last week but the move was made official on Monday morning.

The Philadelphia Eagles infamously picked Reagor in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, just one selection ahead of the Minnesota Vikings choosing Justin Jefferson. Reagor has recorded 72 catches and 799 receiving yards and just four touchdowns on 124 targets in 45 games over his first three seasons, while Jefferson has quickly established himself as arguably the best wideout in the game.

The Vikings star has made three straight Pro Bowls to start his career and is coming off of a 2022 campaign where he earned First Team All-Pro honors and was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year. Jefferson led the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) among other categories last season, while adding eight touchdowns through the air. He's compiled 324 catches, 4,825 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns on 476 targets in 50 games over his first three years in the NFL.

Jefferson and Reagor were teammates on the Vikings last season after the latter was traded to Minnesota on Aug. 31, 2022. Reagor posted career lows on just 82 offensive snaps (despite playing all 17 games), finishing with eight catches for 104 yards on 13 targets.

Despite bringing in one-time Pro Bowler JuJu Smith-Schuster over the offseason, New England's wide receiver's room again looks to be one of the weakest in the league on paper. Reagor could eventually make his way onto the active roster and at the very least get some more opportunities to turn his young career around.