Patriots Face Tight End Woes Following Gronk’s Departure…
The New England Patriots find themselves in a tight spot as they navigate the offseason without the iconic Rob Gronkowski. The tight end position, once a stronghold for the Patriots, now demands urgent attention. Free agents Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, and Pharoah Brown further complicate the situation.
Super Bowl Sunday serves as a poignant reminder of Gronkowski’s impact, showcasing the formidable advantage the Patriots once enjoyed with his elite abilities. In four Super Bowl appearances, Gronkowski amassed 297 yards and three touchdowns, consistently making crucial catches.
The current Patriots roster lacks a successor to Gronk, with only La’Michael Pettway, a relatively unknown former USFL player, under contract for the upcoming season. Notably, key contributors Hunter Henry, Pharoah Brown, and Mike Gesicki are all set to hit free agency.
While Hunter Henry, despite not fully justifying his hefty 2021 contract, emerged as a significant offensive weapon for the team, injuries plagued both him and running back Rhamondre Stevenson as the Patriots’ offense struggled, ranking 30th in the NFL.
Even if the Patriots choose to re-sign Henry, they face the task of acquiring at least two or three additional tight ends before the training camp. Options in the free-agent market include well-known names like Noah Fant, Dalton Schultz, and Gerald Everett.
The 2024 NFL Draft introduces Georgia’s Brock Bowers as the consensus No. 1 tight end. Although drafting him at third overall might seem high, the Patriots could potentially trade down and still secure Bowers, a two-time John Mackey Award winner.
Whether through retaining Henry, drafting Bowers, signing a veteran free agent, or a combination of these moves, the Patriots must address the tight end position significantly during this offseason.
In an unrelated note, New England Patriots chairman Robert Kraft invested a substantial $7 million in a 30-second Super Bowl commercial for his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. Titled “Silence,” the ad features Dr. Clarence B. Jones, a former speechwriter for Martin Luther King Jr., urging viewers to stand up against all forms of hate. This sizable investment surpasses the combined salary of the Patriots’ starting quarterbacks in 2023, Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, who are both on affordable rookie deals.
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