Which teams can create mismatches against the New York Jets’ safeties and linebackers?
13. New England Patriots
Italicized players were added in the 2020 offseason.
- 2019 TE overall rank: 29th
- 2019 TE receiving rank: 26th
- 2019 TE blocking rank: 24th
- Projected depth chart: Matt LaCosse, Devin Asiasi (third-round pick), Dalton Keene (third-round pick), Ryan Izzo
- Notable losses: Benjamin Waston (retired)
New England used a pair of third-round picks to try and boost a tight end group that was abysmal in 2019.
Devin Asiasi offers receiving upside after posting 44 catches, 641 yards, and four touchdowns as a redshirt junior at UCLA, while Keene’s skill-set leans more towards the blocking side. The Patriots need help in both areas after ranking last in receiving yards from the tight end position (418) and also placing in the bottom half of every tight end blocking category.
12. Miami Dolphins
- 2019 TE overall rank: 25th
- 2019 TE receiving rank: 27th
- 2019 TE blocking rank: 15th
- Projected depth chart: Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe, Chandler Cox, Michael Roberts (FA)
Gesicki had an improved second season in 2019. He caught 51 passes for 570 yards and five touchdowns, soaring beyond his 22/202/0 line as a rookie. From Weeks 9-17, Gesicki ranked eighth among tight ends with 417 yards (46.3 per game) and tied for third with five touchdowns.
Miami’s receiving ranking at tight end was dragged down by the lack of a strong second target beyond Gesicki. Durham Smythe ranked second among the team’s tight ends with just 65 yards. However, Smythe’s respectable performance as a blocker lifted the unit up to a league-average level there despite Gesicki’s poor blocking.
With the only key addition being Michael Roberts, who has 13 catches over three years since being drafted, it does not seem like Miami is poised to rise much further beyond its No. 25 ranking at the tight end position from a year ago.
Gesicki has become a solid volume receiver, but he is a weak blocker has yet to showcase viable efficiency, posting very poor numbers of a 28.1% first down rate and 6.4 yards per target in 2019. Beyond Gesicki, all the group has to offer is some decent blocking from Smythe, who is a horrendous pass-catcher (16.0% first down rate / 4.6 yards per target for career). Chandler Cox, a 2019 seventh-round pick, had a poor rookie season as both a receiver and blocker.
Look for Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, C.J. Mosley, and Avery Williamson to smother this unit both in coverage and against the run.
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