Patriots release former first-round pick Jalen Reagor after his cryptic social media post

The Patriots released wide receiver Jalen Reagor from the practice squad on Tuesday, just hours after Reagor made a cryptic social media post suggesting he may not have been happy with his role in New England.

Reagor, a former first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension with the Patriots in March after spending the 2023 season with New England as a backup WR and kick returner. He received $442,500 in guaranteed salary.

Reagor did not make the 53-man roster after the preseason and re-signed to New England's practice squad in August. He did not play in New England's first two games of the season.

On Tuesday, Reagor posted a meme on Instagram of a Bugatti parked in the driveway of a trailer park.

The post didn't include a comment, but one could certainly conclude in this scenario that Reagor believes he is the parked Bugatti and the Patriots are the supporter standing next to it. And there's a good chance that's exactly how the Patriots interpreted his message.

Hours later, the Patriots released Reagor, announcing the deal in a brief statement without any comment from anyone on the team.

After his release, Reagor removed the meme from his Instagram account. In fact, he removed everything. As of Tuesday afternoon, Reagor's Instagram account, which has more than 100,000 followers, had no posts and nothing in his Instagram story window. His profile simply read “Athlete.”

This chapter is the latest in a disappointing career since the Eagles selected Reagor 21st overall in the 2020 draft, one pick ahead of All-Pro Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. Reagor had 31 catches for 396 yards and a touchdown as a rookie and 57 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in his second season.

The Eagles cut losses in the 2022 offseason, trading Reagor to the Vikings in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick and a conditional fourth-round draft pick that was converted to a fifth-round pick when Reagor's performance conditions were not met. Reagor caught eight passes for 107 yards in 17 games in Minnesota.

The Vikings released Reagor after the 2023 training camp and the Patriots signed him to their practice squad. New England used him in 11 games last season and he had seven catches for 138 yards.

His biggest contributions probably came on special teams, where he showcased the elite speed and athleticism that made him a first-round pick as a kick returner. Reagor returned seven kicks for an average of 31.6 yards per return, including a 98-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.

Ultimately, Reagor's talents were not enough to secure him a permanent spot on the New England roster, and he is now looking for a new job.