There was some serious hype brewing around Culver-Stockton College product Kyle Dixon entering the New England Patriots’ 2026 rookie minicamp. The wide receiver signed with the team following the NFL Draft for over $250,000 in guaranteed cash, the third-highest undrafted rookie contract in franchise history.
Judging by the reporting coming out of Foxboro, Dixon was as good as advertised.
Taylor Kyles of Patriots CLNS called Dixon the best player on the field on Saturday, which was the second of the two workouts that was open to the media. Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal echoed that sentiment after Dixon made four receptions in an 11-on-11 period, catching passes from intriguing seventh-round quarterback Behren Morton.
“Hard not to have these eyes drawn to NAIA product, WR Kyle Dixon,” Giardi wrote. “The UDFA had a couple of catches during the team period, including one on a post route. There was a defender who, had this been a game, might have been able to knock the stuffing out of him, but at least Dixon made the catch in this circumstance. All in all, the ball did not hit the ground very often, a credit to Morton. The Texas Tech product was quick to get the ball out and generally accurate. There was also a little more giddy up on his throws.”
Kyle Dixon could be the Patriots’ 2026 training camp darling
To Giardi’s point, the real evaluations of Dixon will come later this summer, when the pads come on during training camp.
There’s no denying his athletic profile, though. His small-school background aside, he could make some noise after the Patriots passed on drafting a wide receiver for the first time since 2020.
Per NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Dixon was a standout after being invited to attend Missouri’s Pro Day, posting a time of 4.46-seconds in the 40-yard dash to go with some strong showings in both the broad (10-foot-11) and vertical (40.5 inches). He’s an older prospect at 25 years old — but that’s due in part to him being a former Division I college baseball player.
The Patriots were clearly intrigued, as only CJ Dippre and Efton Chism III received more guaranteed money from the Patriots as UDFAs than Dixon. Chism made the initial 53-man roster last summer, while Dippre spent the majority of the year on the practice squad.
In his latest depth chart projection following rookie minicamp, Kyles has the Patriots carrying six wide receivers — and that’s not counting a potential trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for A.J. Brown. Even after an impressive weekend, Kyles has Dixon listed as a developmental backup or practice squad option.
Dixon’s best chance to make the team would likely come on special teams, a path he must start forging in training camp. He may need to have an amazing summer to convince the team to keep an extra wideout, but similar to Chism last year, he figures to be an instant fan favorite in Foxboro when public practices start up in July.
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