We all knew this day was coming. After their Super Bowl LIII victory, Rob Gronkowski said he was unsure about his commitment for the upcoming season. Given his durability issues, this was coming sooner rather than later. Given his dominance when healthy, Gronk is irreplaceable, both on and off the field. But the Patriots have to try.
What They Have
The Patriots TE position is relatively bleak right now. Stephen Anderson, Jacob Hollister (pictured above), Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse are not exactly world beaters. With an offense that has been built around their tight end position, this is bad news for the upcoming season. The time to sign players in free agency has passed, and Jared Cook was the best option to fill the hole. I understand why the Pats did not sign him, as being the best option doesn’t necessarily make it a good option. So, where do they go from here?
The Draft
This draft has some good tight ends in it. The top two, T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, are both Iowa products. The problem is they are both expected to go before the Patriots pick at number 32. Both described as three down tight ends, they could be perfect in the Patriots system. It is unlikely they fall 10+ picks to the Patriots, but weirder things have happened. A more likely scenario is Alabama product Irv Smith Jr. He is well rounded, but raw. While undersized, measuring at 6’2″ and 242 lbs at the combine, he does have some speed to him. Running a 4.63 40, this put him slightly above the 4.70 average for tight ends. The problem is he is projected to go in the mid-2nd round. This is bad for the Patriots, as they can either draft him higher than they should, or miss out on him. They could trade back, but given the other needs for this team (safety or wide receiver,) this is not a good option for the team. But, what if it all works out?
This Year’s Need
If the Patriots take Smith, that does not solve their issue for this upcoming season. Rated at 5.91, the NFL Combine believes he has a chance to become a starter. One thing they could do is explore a trade, specifically targeting an older tight end on an expiring deal. One such player is Vernon Davis. Having a base salary of $4.75 million this upcoming season, he is coming off a bit of a down year. This, coupled with his age, means it would not take a lot to get him. A mid-round pick maybe, and having him play with Brady could show a boost in numbers. Davis also becomes a free agent after this season. If Irv Smith Jr. can develop under Brady and Belichick’s guidance, this could be a wonderful move, locking up the tight end spot for the next couple of years.
We’ll miss you, you goofy, monster of a man.
