The Patriots 2019 Tight End Unit and The Present.

When Rob Gronkowski retired late, the Patriots tried to get help but things just didn't work out. The Patriots already had Ryan Izzo on the team, who was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round.

The Patriots waited for Gronkowski to make a decision and were interested in several big names. However, Gronkowski waited until the Patriots were on the books for his contract before hanging up his cleats.

On March 15th, of 2019, the Patriots signed Matt Lacosse, a blocking tight end who was underused as a pass catcher. Standing 6'5" Lacosse was thought to be a redzone and 50/50 ball threat.

On April 10th of 2019, the Patriots signed Veteran Austin Seferian-Jenkins. A veteran tight end who was a 6'6" receiving tight end. And on May 9th, the Patriots signed veteran tight end and former New England Patriot Ben Watson. Watson was an all around tight end.

So what happened?

First off, ASJ was released due to personal reasons. That took away a huge receiving target. While I am not saying he would've been Aaron Hernandez, Jenkins would've been a massive success from that position.

Then Ben Watson got suspended for taking testosterone, and would have to miss the first 5 games of the season. Watson would get cut and later resigned. However Watson looked like an out of shape, washed up player at the end of his career.

Matt Lacosse was supposed to be the new Gronkowski but failed to connect with Tom Brady. Partly due to his ability and partly due to Brady.

Ryan Izzo struggled as a blocker but started to emerge as a pass catcher weeks 5 and 6 before leaving week six with a concussion. Izzo would go through concussion protocol but would be red shirted the last 6 games due to effects of the concussion.

People got excited when the Patriots signed Seferian-Jenkins. They got nostalgic when the team signed Watson. Why? Because Belichick addressed the position. He rebuilt it. Circumstances just led to it not working.

This offseason Belichick continued to try to address the position. Is the team better than they were last season? On paper yes but both rookie tight ends were underused, so like with Matt Lacosse and Ben Watson, the Patriots don't truly know what they're getting from Asiasi and Keene. The only tight end they do know about is Izzo, who would've matched the Patriots tight end production by him self last season, had he of not gotten injured.