Why Ryan Izzo was the most productive Patriots tight end in 2019 and should be a roster lock in 2020

In 2018 The Patriots selected Ryan Izzo in the 7th round of the NFL draft. Izzo was known as a blocking tight end coming out of Florida State. His last season he played in 13 games and put up 317 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 receptions. His NFL comparison was John Carlson who played for the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Vikings.

Izzo spent the 2018 season on the IR after suffering a high ankle sprain. The same injury that Sanu suffered in 2019.

In 2019 Izzo suffered a concussion, this isn't 2001 when the league ignored side effects from concussions. So Izzo had to pass concussion protocol to get back on the field. Izzo was kept out weeks 7-9 due to the concussion. Week 10, Izzo was kept out with an undisclosed illiness, which still could've been from the concussion. Izzo was red shirted after week 10. During week 3, Izzo suffered a calf injury that he played with all season. 

Izzo was listed as tight end three all season. His position and production was a product of circumstance due to injury and being red shirted. If not for the injuries, Izzo may have exploded in 2019. I know people don't like to deal with circumstances excuses but we made them for why Brady's stats were down in 2018 and 2019. We also made the for why the run game struggled in 2019. Take a look at some stats and analytical data, which show it's not an excuse.

Tight end one, Ben Watson during 2019 played in 10 games. He caught 17 passes for 173 yards and 0 touchdowns. Tight end two, Matt Lacosse played in 11 games and caught 13 passes for 131 yards and 1 touchdown. Izzo who had less catches and targets, statistically was right between them.

Ryan Izzo played in 6 games. Caught 6 of 9 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Izzo averaged 19 yards a catch. If izzo had played in 10 games based off his average, he would've had 10 catches for 190 yards. If he had played in 11 games he would've had 209 yards. Before Izzo got hurt, he was starting to earn Brady's trust. He caught 4 of 6 passes in weeks 5 and 6 and had 70 yards and a touchdown. 

Izzo was averaging 5.1 yards after the catch. Izzo wasn't on Gronk's level but he wasn't going down on first contact either.

Izzo only played in 59.8% of the snaps, 40.5% were passing plays. Where he was targeted 4% of the time he was on the field. 88.9% of the passes thrown to Izzo were catchable. Izzo finished 2019 with a catch rate of 66.7%. With a true catch rate of 75%. 

Izzo had a target seperation rate of 2.78 and was 50% on contested catches. Izzo had a run blocking grade of 44.9, however as a whole the entire team had a down year on blocking.

Izzo was the best tight end statistically in 2019. If he had played the entire season, he was in pace for 18 catches for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns. Izzo's concussion set him back. Before he got his concussion, izzo was targeted 6 times by Brady over two games. He had just started earning Brady's confidence.

Izzo was on pace to be close or pass Hayden Hurst, Nate Boyle, and Jacob Hollister in yards had he of not gotten injured. He would've also tied Tyler Effriet, Eric Ebron and Hurst in touchdowns. Fans during the 2020 offseason wanted atleast four of those players to join the roster. 

Stats and production don't lie. Izzo is not elite but he is a good tight end. He could start 2020 as tight end one and be the veteran of the core before moving down to tight end two or three. Izzo may even be better than that.

At 6'5" 260+ pounds, Izzo is a big boy and he is only slated to make around $600k. And the Patriots have him under contract next year. There is no reason why Izzo should not make the 2020 New England Patriots roster, especially over Matt Lacosse.