The one thing the Patriots needed in both the 2018 and 2019 season were pass catching tight ends. Belichick waited on Gronkowski, who retired. Then signed both Seferian Jenkins and Watson one bailed and the other was barely useful. Ryan Izzo started to emerge as the number one in 2019 before a concussion ruined his season. While we as fans expect a free agent signing, here are the 10 best fits in the 2020 NFL draft.
Albert Okwuegunam
6'5" 260 LBS
Missouri
Intelligent, Athletic and versatile, Still developing his route tree but has speed to separate. Is going to exploit seam routes with his size and ability to track the ball. Catches through in traffic and through contact with strong, natural hands. Has ability to win 50/50, jump balls, and make circus catches with a large radius. Hard to say if he's a more dangerous target in the red zone or in the endzone from the goalie. An inline blocker with room for development and can play move tight end or H-Back role. Has some injury history, and questions about his ability to run underneath. Projected Day 2 developmental prospect. 27 games, 98 catches for 1187, with 23 touchdowns and a 12.1 average.
Cheyenne O'Grady
6'4" 258 LBS
Arkansas
Smart, agile and versatility, aligning both inline, move, and H-Back tight end. Decent blocker with room for improvement. Good route runner with soft hands, who catches in traffic. Doesn't drop the ball and has a large catch radius. Finds ways to get open and doesn't go down easy, picking up hard yards after the catch. Good ball tracking, wins jump and contested balls. Basketball court playstyle. Injury history and off field conerns including a DUI push him back to a projected day 3 developmental Prospect. In 27 games, 87 catches for 967 yards. 11.6 average with 12 touchdowns.
Jacob Breeland
6'5" 252 LBS
Oregon
Fast, deep guy. Athletic with a catch radius, who will win jump and 50/50 Balls. Catches in traffic. Doesn't go down easy and picks up extra yards. Solid inline or H-Back blocker, who's a dangerous receiver from the backfield. Versatile enough to get open going across the middle from the move position. Instinctive, knowing when to break off a route. Big bodied end zone and red zone threat. Concerns with Injury history. Projected a day 3 developmental Prospect. 30 games, 74 catches for 1225 yards, averaging 16.6 with 13 touchdowns.
Adam Trautman
6'5" 255 LBS
Dayton
Trautman is a big, athletic tight end. Decent as an Inline blocker. Wins contested and 50/50 balls. Can play the H-Back, inline, or move role. Large route tree, will stretch the field or across the field. Fast and agile for a tight end. Picks up yards after the catch. Converted quarterback and basketball player. Concerns about his football smarts, and rawness at the position. Projected a day 3 developmental player. In 44 games caught 178 passes for 2295 yards. Averaging 12.9 with 31 touchdowns. 1 kick returner for 8 yards
Devin Asiasi
6'3" 260 LBS
UCLA
Fast and athletic inline blocker. Runs good routes and sells the play action. Can stretch the field. Line up as the H-back or move tight end. Can catch in traffic and showed he can be clutch. Has a good catch radius which allows him to pick up yards after the catch. A raw project like former Patriot tight end Mike Williams. Concern about his weight. Will he get a good word from Belichick's friend, coach Chip Kelly? Projected day 3 developmental player. 16 games with 52 catches for 789 yards. Averaging 15.2 with 6 touchdowns.
Matthew Wilkerson
6'6" 270 LBS
Edward Walter's
College Ironman playing both tight and defensive end. Small school unknown. Quick, athletic with decent speed. Good hands and catches in traffic. Can stretch the field. Runs a lot of outs, posts, and streaks. Will get 50/50 balls. Can line up inline or as the move tight end. Decent at setting an edge and getting in the back field as a defender. Will occasionally drop into coverage. Not a lot of tape on this projected developmental udfa sleeper. In 2019 caught 19 for 293 and 4.
Colby Parkinson
6'7" 252 LBS
Stanford
Fast, Smart and Versatile. Good blocking skills. Athletic for his size. Decent route running ability, gets separation and tracks the ball down. Good hands with a large radius. Will get 50/50 and jump balls. Redzone and goaline threat. Uses his size to pick up yards after the catch. Can play H-Back, Inline, or Move tight end. Projected day 3 developmental player who could use to add a little weight. In 31 games, caught 81 balls for 1171 yards, averaging 13.5 and 12 touchdowns. Completed 1 pass for 8 yards and a Touchdown.
Harrison Bryant
6'5" 243 LBS
FAU
Quick and fast move or H-back tight end. Decent route tree. Undersized inline blocker. Good catch radius with small hands but gets separation. Good ball tracking and will win 50/50 balls. A little light for his frame, and has an injury history. Needs development but is being compared to Kittle. Projected as a early day 3 pick. 41 games, Caught 148 passes for 2137, with 14.4 avg and 16 touchdowns. 1 kick returner for 5 yards.
Giovanni Ricci
6'4" 240 LBS
West Michigan
Raw H-Back or move tight end. Good acceleration and speed. Thee redzone threat. Good route runner and decent run blocker for a receiver convert. Good hands, Athletic and agile. Good at getting yards after the catch and can stretch the field. Needs work on his pass blocking. Projected a day 3 developmental player. Compared to Trey Burton. 32 games. 98 catches for 1114 yards, 11.4 avg and 11 touchdowns.
Ahmed Wagner
6'7" 240 LBS
Western Kentucky
Move tight end, Former basketball player and receiver convert. Quick and fast for a tight end. Gets jump balls and makes circus catches. Has a large catch radius but needs to gain some weight. Redzone target. Causes defensive penalties. Raw with blocking, and questions about his route tree. Projected as a day 7th round - undrafted free agent developmental project. Drew 12 defensive penalties on 42 targets. Caught 15 for 254, with a 16.9 yard average and 2 TDs.
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