The New England Patriots are giving former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Nelson Agholor a two-year, $ 26 million deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It became the second major offensive addition by the Patriots on Monday. Jonnu Smith agreed to a four-year, $ 50 million contract, including a guaranteed $ 31.25 million, agent Drew Rosenhaus said Schefter.
The Patriots also spent a lot on the defensive side, adding pass-rusher Matthew Judon to a $ 56 million deal for four years, including a guaranteed $ 32 million, sources said to Schefter.
Agholor, signed by the Raiders for a one-year, $ 1,047,500 million proof contract last March, after essentially being expelled from Philadelphia because of the ex-first round’s propensity for falls, reinvented himself last season in Las Vegas .
He was the most efficient wideout on the Raiders ‘list, scoring a touchdown in eight of the Raiders’ 16 games. The eight touchdown catches tied his career, and included six of at least 20 yards – which came in second in the league.
Agholor, the 20th overall pick of the 2015 draft, ended last season with a career record of 896 yards in 48 receptions, the best career average of 18.7 yards per catch, which came in second among NFL players with at least 25 receptions.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr had a passer rating of 100.5 when he aimed at Agholor, who also had 15 receptions of at least 20 yards, who came in 19th in the NFL.
Agholor, who turns 28 on May 24, was hired for more depth, but ended up filling a need in the position when the menacing Tyrell Williams was lost during the season on the training ground due to a shoulder injury and sprinters Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards hit the novice’s wall. His biggest game came in a loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16, when he had a record 155 yards in reception, including an 85-yard TD that lasted his entire career. Zebra Technologies’ Next Gen Stats caused Agholor to travel 117.8 yards total distance on that scoreboard, the most yards traveled in an offensive scoring move up to that point in the season.
In six seasons, he has 272 receptions for 3,411 yards and 26 touchdowns.
ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.