Patriots Draft Profile: Prospect Walking Familiar Path To NFL
The New England Patriots have a rough history of developing wide receivers, but there’s one archetype that they’ve been pretty successful with.
For every couple of N’Keal Harry’s, Tyquan Thornton’s, Chad Jackson’s and Aaron Dobson’s, there are the Julian Edelman’s and Jakobi Meyers’ of the world.
Do you see where we’re headed?
Stefon Diggs joined a free agent class that already addressed several other needs when signing a multi-year deal a few weeks back. Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and DeMario Douglas can be expected to provide quality reps around him, while there will be opportunities for young receivers like Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker to step up.
It’s not like they need to take one of the top wide receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Patriots might want to stick to what they (or those who have been in the building over the last quarter-century) are familiar with.
OVERVIEW
Nash is a former collegiate quarterback who knew he wasn’t going to lengthen his football career by ticking to the position, so he made the switch to wide receiver.
How did it go?
San Jose State now has one All-American, with his final two seasons at the school serving as real-time examples of how quickly players can develop when they find the right role. Nash led the entire country in touchdown receptions (16), while finishing second in receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,382).
Dude can play.
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
Nash had a solid, if not unspectacular, showing at the combine.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 203lbs
Hand: 8 3/4″
Arm: 31″
40-Yard Dash: 4.57
Vertical Jump: 34″
Broad Jump: 10′ 3″
STRENGTHS
Nash added so many tricks to his tool bag this past season that we lost count.
It’s never easy transitioning between positions, but being a former quarterback definitely gave him a leg up in understanding coverage and exploiting it on sit-down and option routes. Boise State found out the hard way, as he crushed them on underneath routes while also showing great tempo and physicality at the catch point.
How did he improve?
Nash was already a great athlete, but you could see that his route tree expanded rather considerably during his final season. We also noticed an improved willingess to be physical, which will be key at the next level.
WEAKNESSES
Can he continue to grow?
Edelman had insane quickness, which allowed him to continue adding to his repertoire into his 30s. Meyers has been a tremendous fit in every offense he’s played in, using his length as an advantage in the slot.
Nash needs to find ways to improve to stick in an offense at the next level, but he doesn’t have any physical traits that stand out.
WHO CAN HELP HIM IMPROVE? WILL NEW ENGLAND HAVE THE PATIENCE?
Diggs’ presence makes that first question much easier to answer, specifically as it relates to carving out a role as an okay but unspectacular athlete.
The Patriots should be looking to take advantage of his experience and past success, especially as it relates to younger wide receivers like Kayshon Boutte, Polk and Baker. Nash could easily be added to the list, serving as just another guy who can hopefully pick things up from working with a superstar.
If you’d like more individual profiles, check out the full series and follow @KeaganStiefel on X.