The New England Patriots lost a reported free-agent target to Tom Brady amid Monday's opening frenzy.
Jalen Nailor will sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. The insider noted that the Patriots, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings "showed interest" in the wide receiver.
Nailor caught 29 of 53 targets for a career-high 444 yards and four touchdowns in his fourth season with the Vikings. The former sixth-round pick appeared in all 17 games for the second straight year and saw an elevated snap count.
The 5-foot-11 wideout enjoyed a coming-out party in Minnesota's Week 10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, catching a 62-yard reception among his 124 yards and scoring a 10-yard touchdown. He found the end zone twice in a Week 15 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite his increased role, Nailor remained an ancillary option in Minnesota's high-octane offense behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. The 27-year-old will now have a chance to stand out in a Raiders receiving room that traded former Patriots standout Jakobi Meyers during the 2025 campaign.
Tre Tucker led the Raiders with 696 receiving yards last season, so Nailor could earn meaningful reps in an offense featuring running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers, with Fernando Mendoza under center if Las Vegas drafts him with the No. 1 pick.
The Raiders also spurned the Patriots on Friday by trading rumored New England target Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens. There was reportedly "no way" that Brady, a minority owner, would move the star pass rusher to his former team.
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