Continuing to build around Drake Maye was always going to be the best method for the New England Patriots maintaining the progress made during last season’s Super Bowl run, so it was surprising the team didn’t select a single wide receiver during the 2026 NFL draft to help their star quarterback, opting instead to wait and add a “highly intriguing” target in free agency.
The signing went under the radar for many, but not for Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic. He names Kyle Dixon as the best rookie free agent added by the Patriots after the draft.
As Baumgardner put it, Dixon is “A 6-foot-2, 220-pound NAIA receiver with a 40 1/2-inch vertical and 10-11 broad jump, Dixon had a combined 143 catches for 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns during his last two college seasons. Originally a college baseball player at SIU-Edwardsville, Dixon is newer to football but highly intriguing.”
The Pats deserve credit for taking a flier on somebody short of experience playing football, but who possesses obvious athletic upside. Especially when the Patriots backed their gamble by handing Jones significant money.
He’s an untested wideout, but Jones has the chance to make an impression amongst a receiver corps overhauled after last season. Maye’s top target, Stefon Diggs, is no longer on the team, while another of the QB1’s favorites could be traded.
It means the Patriots need to explore every possible scenario for getting better at a position that’s key to supporting Maye.
All Change for Patriots at Wide Receiver
The picture at wide receiver is changing all the time for the Patriots. They’ve already paid former Green Bay Packers pass-catcher Romeo Doubs like he’s a No. 1 receiver, but that’s just the start.
Last year’s third-round draft pick Kyle Williams is also making a change. One with a nod toward the role Diggs played in 2025.
It’s also likely the Patriots will make changes to the role of slot receiver DeMario Douglas in the post-Diggs landscape. Douglas has a similar skill-set to another undrafted find, 2025 post-draft addition Efton Chism III, but Dixon can make an impact in a different way.
Kyle Dixon Brings Qualities Missing from Drake Maye’s Supporting Cast
Dixon’s height and ability to high-point the football are important attributes currently missing from most of the receivers at Maye’s disposal. Having a raw, but gifted athlete who can win contested catches will make things easier for Maye whenever No. 10 wants to stretch the field and attack coverage vertically.
Those are things Maye likes to do, and he posted a solid 9.1 “intended air yards per pass attempt” last season, according to Pro Football Reference. The third player drafted in 2024 also attempted 70 deep ball throws, per Player Profiler, a number that can increase if Dixon makes the team.
If he does, it will likely be as “a true backup for” veteran Mack Hollins, according to Baumgardner’s colleague Chad Graff. Hollins offers size on the perimeter, but he’s not a natural speedster, so there’s a place for Dixon to increase the ways Maye gets to take the top off coverage in an instant.
In the meantime, Maye faces an anxious wait for the Patriots to finally resolve any trade for three-time Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown. So the signal-caller should keep a keen eye on how Dixon progresses this offseason.
Patriots Praised for Adding ‘Highly Intriguing’ Target for Drake Maye