The New England Patriots decided to forgo the wide receiver position in this year’s NFL Draft, but they did sign a bunch of rookie free agents afterwards. Among that group, nobody had as unique a background as Kyle Dixon.
A former baseball player in college, he spent his only two football seasons at Culver-Stockton in the NAIA. Now, he is trying to leave his mark on the Patriots.
Hard facts
Name: Kyle Dixon
Position: Wide receiver
Jersey number: 83
Opening day age: 25 (9/14/2000)
Measurements: 6’2 1/2”, 220 lbs,
9” hand size, 31 7/8” arm length, 78” wingspan, 4.50s 40-yard dash, 7.05s 3-cone drill, 4.51s short shuttle, 40 1/2” vertical jump, 10’11” broad jump, 15 bench press reps, 9.42 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Southern Illinois Carbondale (2019-20), Southern Illinois Edwardsville (2021-22), Georgia Gwinnett (2023), Culver-Stockton (2024-25)
Despite being of the most productive wide receivers in Illinois state history as well as an all-state defensive back as a junior, Dixon decided not to continue his football career beyond Carlinville, IL, High School. Instead, he opted for baseball entering college and ended up spending five years as a bullpen pitcher at various schools.
In 2024, he made his return to a gridiron. It was a successful one. In just two seasons and 22 games with the NAIA’s Culver-Stockton Wildcats in Canton, MI, he caught 143 passes for 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also was voted first-team All-HAAC in both seasons.
And yet, Dixon received only moderate interest entering the NFL and eventually went undrafted in 2026. He joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent shortly after hitting the market.
Scouting report
Strengths: Tall, lean, with broad shoulders and long limbs, Dixon very much looks the part of an NFL wide receiver — and not just that. He also offers decent straight-line speed and good leaping ability; he is well-suited to be competitive as a downfield receiver and competitive catch player both inside and on the perimeter. He transitions quickly from a receiver to a runner with the ball in his hands, and has shown the ability to break tackles to gain extra yards. His college production also was nothing short of impressive given his background.
Weaknesses: There is no denying that Dixon’s game translating to the NFL is far from a given. Looking at his tape at Culver-Stockton, he mostly was the best athlete on the field and therefore at a clear advantage over his opposition. As far as his actual skillset is concerned, he is unsurprisingly raw throughout his route; his release technique, footwork at his break, and working back to the football are all a work in progress. He also is not the shiftiest receiver and more of a linear streaker but without the top-end speed to begin with.
2025 review
Stats: 11 games | 83 catches, 1,282 receiving yards (15.4/catch), 12 TDs, 1 fumble (1 lost) | 1 carry, 5 rushing yards | 1-of-1, 11 passing yards
Season recap: Typically in this section of our scouting reports, we provide some extra info that goes beyond the basic stats. However, this being Culver-Stockton we are talking about, there is limited information available about how Dixon fared statistically in 2025. What we do know is that he was once again pretty productive and finished the season as the Wildcats’ most productive pass catcher and one of the top performers in the NAIA.
But just to paint the picture here. At Culver-Stockton, Dixon played in front of a crowd typically a fraction of what he is experiencing at your average Patriots training camp practice. The team’s highest recorded home attendance of 2025 was 945 spectators against St. Ambrose (IA). Dixon caught eight passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in that game.
That was one of seven 100-yard games he had last season, but far from his top outing. A week later versus Central Methodist (MO), he recorded 11 catches for 236 yards and three scores — breaking a school record in receiving yards that had stood for 36 years and earning Heart Football Player of the Week honors.
Unsurprisingly, Dixon was also named first-team All-HAAC for a second straight season. He also was later invited to participate in the Hula Bowl, where he hauled in four passes for 71 yards.
2026 preview
Position: X-receiver | Ability: Camp body/Practice squad candidate | Contract: Signed through 2028 (2029 RFA)
What will be his role? Dixon was used both outside and in the slot during his brief college football career, but based on his skillset projects mostly as an outside receiver at the next level. That said, the Patriots do like to cross-train their wideouts if they believe they can do so, meaning that a more flexible role could be in the cards as well especially given concerns about his ability to beat press-man coverage. Either way, Dixon is a package and backup player.
What is his growth potential? Athletically, Dixon provides a decent ceiling. This, in turn, could help him develop into a usable depth piece on offense. Whether or not he can be anything more than that remains to be seen; the sample size thus far is simply too small and of an entirely different quality than what he will face as a pro. His potential for development is sizable, though.
Does he have positional versatility? While not the most versatile of players, Dixon does have some attributes to his game that suggest he can be used as more than a one-trick pony. Training camp so far has already shown that: he has spent time with the returners, something he did not do in college.
What is his salary cap situation? The Patriots signed him to a three-year undrafted rookie deal that came with sizable guarantees: a $17,000 signing bonus prorated over the length of the deal, plus $235,000 in salary guarantees for the 2026 season. As far as his cap impact is concerned, it consists of his $885,000 base salary plus that $5,833 signing bonus proration for a combined sum of $890,833. Under the Top 51 rule, only his guaranteed bonus counts against the cap in the offseason.
How safe is his roster spot? Minimally. As an undrafted rookie receiver, Dixon was at a disadvantage to begin with; there is a reason he was not selected in the draft. So far this training camp, little has changed: he still remains near the bottom of the depth chart, with second-unit work the height of his success.
Summary: Dixon has an intriguing skillset and after playing only two college seasons still has significant room for growth, particularly considering the massive jump in competition he is facing. That might be enough for him to be kept around on the practice squad, if his practice and preseason performance look the part as well.
What do you think about Kyle Dixon heading into the 2026 season? Will he emerge from the depths of the roster? Will he maybe factor into the returner mix? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
