The Patriots have been busy this offseason, signing players like Brandin Cooks and Kony Ealy while also working out Nick Thurman. Thurman is a cornerback who played for the Browns in 2017 after spending time with the Colts and Giants.
The Patriots Work Out Nick Thurman Ahead of Roster Move is a story about the New England Patriots signing free agent tight end Nick Thurman.
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On Tuesday, the New England Patriots made a few roster changes, and there may be more to come.
According to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus, the club welcomed former defensive lineman Nick Thurman for a workout after putting linebacker and edge rusher Chase Winovich on injured reserve. The Patriots could need some depth up front, and Thurman would be an excellent fit.
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The Career of Nick Thurman and His Departure from New England
Thurman, who was just 26 years old at the time, spent his lone season in the NFL with the Patriots. In 2020, he played in seven games, one of which he started. Thurman did not have a sack, but he did have six tackles, one of which was a sack.
After going undrafted out of Houston University, Bill Belichick offered him a chance to play in 2020, and he may be on the verge of giving his next NFL opportunity. According to the NFL transaction wire, the Patriots dismissed Thurman in September, just before the start of the season, and reached an undisclosed injury settlement with him.
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We’ll have to wait and see whether he returns, and if so, if his second tenure with the Patriots offers him greater success and longevity.
The Patriots are working out a free agent wide receiver.
Thurman also worked out with free-agent wide receiver Austin Watkins, who was brought in by the Patriots. Watkins, a 23-year-old wide receiver, was not selected this season but did sign with the San Francisco 49ers in May. Watkins has some remarkable physical traits, while being obviously raw.
He has a build comparable to N’Keal Harry, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds. With Harry clearly not living up to his full potential, you have to question whether Watkins can provide New England with the big, muscular receiver they’ve been looking for.
Watkins was projected to be a 4th or 5th-round pick by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, but he fell out of the draft entirely. Watkins, according to Zierlein, has the potential to be a starter down the line.
Here’s what he had to say about Watkins in his book:
Significant wideout with above-average hands and excellent physicality who can improve his tracking and ball skills down the field and take a big stride forward. Watkins has adequate athleticism to run basic routes on the first two levels and has excellent build-up speed given his stature. He can utilize his height and power to fight off press corners who are attempting to encircle him. He also possesses the body and hand strength necessary to make contested receptions. He has a knack for locating the weak areas in zone coverage and is a wide, dependable target quarterbacks can count on. Watkins may be a good middle-round selection with potential value as a WR3, but he needs more polish to firmly define his position.
With the Patriots, Watkins may struggle to make the 53-man roster. On the practice squad, the club already boasts athletes like Kristian Wilkerson and Tre Nixon. To get into the rotation, Watkins would have to leapfrog those two.
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