The New England Patriots are going to be in the tight end market this off-season. Their two starters in Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki are both set to become free agents in March. This leaves the Patriots with a decision to address the tight end position in free agency, the NFL Draft, or both. A smart move would be to sign one in free agency and draft one as well in order to help solidify the position. There are a few different options New England could explore when it comes time to do so.
If the Patriots wish to give Hunter Henry a contract extension which would be a smart move, they should also pair him with young talented tight end in the NFL Draft. A player to keep an eye on is Ja’Tavion Sanders from Texas. Sanders is a dynamic playmaker and a big receiving threat. When he gets the ball into his hands he has great speed and agility for somebody of his size. Standing at six foot four inches, Sanders has the size to outjump almost any defender. Putting him into the Patriots offense would have an immediate impact and add another element to the receiving game. He is too fast for many linebackers to cover him so he would require attention from a defensive back which would open up the field for other receivers to make plays. If the Patriots are willing to use a top one hundred pick on a tight end, then Sanders should be the number one priority at the position.
The Patriots could also look to the trade market to fill their tight end vacancy. Maybe a player like Kyle Pitts from the Falcons would thrive in Alex Van Pelt’s offense in New England. Pitts hasn’t exactly had the best career in Atlanta, and a fresh start might be exactly what he needs. Pitts is another great athlete who can be a huge receiving threat. The Falcons haven’t been able to figure out how to use Pitts in their offense and luckily for New England, that might mean they won’t have to give up a bunch of draft capital to get him. If Atlanta wants something reasonable like a third round pick, then New England should most definitely look to make a move. The Patriots could then resign Hunter Henry or draft somebody in April to pair with Pitts. By acquiring a talented player without having to give up too much, New England is clearly moving ahead into the future with their focus set on a more dynamic offense.
Should Tight End be a top priority this off-season?
With no returning starters under contract for 2024, tight end should be a huge priority this off-season. Tight end is one of the more important positions for an offense in the NFL. Having a player that can either block or make plays with the ball in his hands is a crucial role. The Patriots have made it clear they are looking to improve on the offensive side of the ball and become a more high powered unit. If they wish to do this they will need to get as many playmakers on the field as possible, and a very crucial part of this is to solidify their tight end room. Whether it is free agency in March, the NFL Draft in April, or the trade market, New England should be very active when it comes to rejuvenating their tight end position.