Have we seen the end of this Patriots' tenure?

The Patriots are still gonna need to make some room and free up some cap and roster space. One area the Patriots can do this, is at tight end position. With Matt Lacosse returning, there is no need for both him and Ryan Izzo.

Looking back at 2019 with an accurate quarterback who could actually see the field and hit timing routes, Matt Lacosse played in 11 games. He caught 13 of 19 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. If Lacosse had played a full 16 games, he was on pace for 19 catches on 27 targets for 191 yards and 1 touchdown.

In 2019 Ryan Izzo with Tom Brady caught 6 of 9 targets for 114 yards and a touchdown in 6 games. If Izzo had played all 16 games,  he was on pace for 16 catches on 24 passes for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns. With Brady, Izzo was on pace to out do Lacosse but a concussion ended  his season.

Matt Lacosse opted out in 2020, while Ryan Izzo had to make due with one of the least accurate quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2020 Izzo had 13 catches on 20 targets, for 199 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games. Had Izzo of finished the season, he would've had 17 receptions on 27 targets for 265 yards and zero touchdowns. Watching how many times the ball was thrown to the wrong spot and Izzo was missed or ignored, Cam Newton killed Izzo's production.

With a lesser quarterback, Izzo's stats looked more like Lacosse. Give Izzo an accurate arm in the pocket and watch him bounce back.

Both Izzo and Lacosse have missed a lot of time over their Careers. Matt Lacosse is 28 and Izzo is 25 with a lot more upside and he is still on his 7th round rookie contract. Lacosee however is set to make a cap hit of $1, 450,000. That's one to two depth pieces or a quarter to a third of the money needed to sign their draft picks.

Izzo has shown Development as an inline blocker and number two pass catching tight end. The Patriots are in need of a U-Tight End otherwise known as a move tight end. As I have stated in the past, the Patriots have two inline tight ends (Izzo, Asiasi) and two H-back tight ends (Vitale and Keene). That was forgetting Lacosse was had opted out. 

The Patriots are sure to target a tight end this offseason and do not six tight ends. Vitale, Keene, and Johnson are sure to compete for the fullback spot, Keene and Vitale offer more athleticism and schematic options than Johnson. Johnson may find the axe and while Bill may have Lacosse and Izzo compete for a spot, Izzo should have earned it over the past two seasons. 

I believe Matt Lacosse will soon follow the path of Matt Lengel out the door, and 2021 could be Izzo's last season with the Patriots. Only time will tell what Belichick has in store. It goes without saying but "In Bill We Trust."