Fitzy and Kadlick: Dalvin Cook continues to drop hints he wants to join the Patriots
The talk of the football team that plays in Foxborough, Massachusetts continues to revolve around Mac Jones, Bill Belichick, and the teams seemingly endless pursuit of free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
A topic that isn’t getting enough love is the fact that the Patriots might be up to something at tight end heading into this season.
Not only is Hunter Henry, otherwise known as quarterback Mac Jones’ red zone binky, entering his third season with the club, but they also signed free agent tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year contract worth upwards of $9 million this offseason. The 2018 second-round pick out of Penn State spent his first five seasons with the Dolphins and tallied a career-high 73 catches and 780 yards in 2021.
ESPN’s Seth Walder named this duo New England's “X-factor” heading into 2023:
“X factor for 2023: TEs Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. Henry quietly posted a 68 Open Score last season, fourth-best among tight ends and perhaps a sign of increased productivity to come. Gesicki didn't fit in the Mike McDaniel offense in Miami but is still the same player that recorded over 700 yards in 2020 and 2021. The Patriots lack targets at WR, but perhaps the two tight ends will be a productive supporting cast for Jones.”
Henry has hauled in 11 total touchdowns from the Mac Jones over the last two seasons, and mixing his "68 Open Score" that Walder referenced above with Gesicki's 6’6″, 250-pound frame will allow newly hired offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to once again get creative at the position.
The last time O’Brien was the Patriots offensive coordinator was 2011, also known as the year of the tight end. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez took the NFL by storm with Brady delivering 17 touchdown passes into the hands of Gronkowski, and Hernandez hauling in 79 passes for 910 yards and 7 touchdowns over the campaign. New England went on to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and O'Brien was subsequently hired as Penn State's head coach.
Now that he's back in town, it's safe to say the Patriots' tight ends will be heavily involved in the offense once again. Gesicki already showed off his athleticism and impressive catch radius during New England's OTAs, and Henry is entering an all-important contract year. Buy stock on the "Boston T.E. Party" 2.0.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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