When Rob Gronkowski retired after last season, the New England Patriots had a massive hole at tight end. Due to this, mediocre players such as Matt Lacosse and Ryan Izzo have been forced into a bigger role. These two have combined for just 237 receiving yards through 15 games. After coming back from suspension, old friend Benjamin Watson has been the primary tight end. He has had some moments, but his body of work has been sub-par. His 154 receiving yards push the Patriots tight end total to just 391 yards. Even in a major down season, Gronkowski had 682 yards in only 13 games in 2018. Additionally, his presence on the field was incredibly helpful for the rest of the offense. This has not been the case in 2019.
In 2018, the Patriots had a 14.5 percent offensive DVOA, good for fifth in the league. That number has dropped to 1.9 percent in 2019, just 14th in the league. The effect on the pass game has been even more noticeable. In 2018, they had a 33.0 percent DVOA which ranked fourth in the NFL. That number has fallen to 11.8 percent, 15th in the NFL. The regression is obvious, and one of the main differences between 2018 and 2019 has been the tight end situation. There is no true threat in the middle of the field. Consequentially, the Patriots will have to upgrade their tight end situation in the offseason. How will they be able to do this?
Addressing the New England Patriots Tight End Situation in the Off-Season
A Waste of Talent
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard had a breakout season in 2018. In just 10 games, he had 34 catches for 565 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged a whopping 16.6 yards per reception. In the more advanced department, he was even better. Per PFF, he had an 89.1 overall grade and a fantastic 90.0 receiving grade. He only had two drops all season and averaged 6.4 yards after the catch per reception. Buccaneers quarterbacks had a 112.5 passer rating when targeting Howard. His 2018 season was that of a legitimate superstar. So how would the Patriots possibly acquire such a good player?
The hiring of Bruce Arians as Buccaneers head coach has not been advantageous for Howard. Arians prefers to use his tight ends as run blockers, and he rarely throws to them. In 10 games in 2018, Howard had 48 targets. In two more games this season, he still has fewer targets. It is clear that he will not maximize his value as a Buccaneer, so why not trade him? Howard’s elite speed and 6’6″ frame would be perfect for Tom Brady. After all, his measurables are almost identical to Gronkowski’s. It might cost a first-round pick, but getting a legitimate cornerstone talent would be worth the high asking price.
Other NFL Options
If the Buccaneers refuse to trade Howard, there will be other options on the free-agent market. The biggest fish in the free-agent sea will be Indianapolis Colts current tight end Eric Ebron. While he isn’t particularly great, Ebron would be a huge upgrade over the current situation. He has a nice receiving grade of 69.4, and he has hovered around that mark for four seasons. His 13 touchdowns in 2018 were most among tight ends, for what it’s worth. He is a big, athletic option that would most likely work well with Tom.
With Ebron, you know what you are getting. With Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, it is somewhat of a mystery. Eifert was a dominant force in 2015 and 2016 before injuries halted his career. 2019 has been a mixed bag for him. He has not been very good, but he has shown flashes of his former self in a handful of games. Once the best red-zone threat in the league, he has the potential to rekindle his career with the greatest quarterback of all-time throwing to him. He will command less money than Ebron, and he might have a higher ceiling.
The Draft
If the Patriots trade for Howard, they will not need to target a tight end in the draft. However, if they sign Ebron or Eifert, it would be advantageous to go into the draft and acquire a player with potential. If none of these players are signed, it is a necessity to draft a tight end with a high pick. Who are some of the guys that the Pats could be targeting?
Washington Huskies tight end Hunter Bryant is the first guy who comes to mind. From what I have seen of him and what other people have said, he plays like the late Aaron Hernandez, without the character issues. He is a legitimate receiver with top-end speed. Being undersized (6’2″) could be an issue, but it was not an issue for the aforementioned Hernandez. Injuries could be a concern, but selecting him in the latter half of the first round would not be a bad move.
Vanderbilt’s Jared Pinkney is a potential buy-low option. In mock drafts, he doesn’t seem to even crack the top 100. His draft stock has plummeted after a poor senior season, so this could be a perfect opportunity for Belichick to restock the tight end cupboard. His main weakness is that he is not a great run blocker, but he is an incredibly polished route runner and overall receiver. If he is available in the late second/early third round, drafting Pinkney would be an easy upgrade.
A Lot of Options
There are a lot of possible upgrades at the tight end position that the Patriots will explore. They sorely need an athletic, vertical threat over the middle of the field. N’Keal Harry might be able to do this, but it would be wise to explore other options before resorting to a position change. There are many more options than the players highlighted in this article, but the aforementioned players are the guys that I believe will make the biggest difference. Brady is not getting any younger, and it is getting more and more important to surround him with talent, assuming he does not bolt from the team next season. Keeping Brady happy should be the number one priority, and that starts with getting him a viable tight end.
