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Buffalo Bills: Ranking the tight ends of the AFC East

By Rob Spehar

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills makes a reception during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at New Era Field on November 24, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Denver 20-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills makes a reception during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at New Era Field on November 24, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Denver 20-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 21: Matt LaCosse #83 of the New England Patriots reacts after catching a touchdown during the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 21: Matt LaCosse #83 of the New England Patriots reacts after catching a touchdown during the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

4) New England Patriots 

Projected Starter – Matt LaCosse

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots decided to double dip at the tight end position selecting Dalton Keene out of Virginia Tech and Devin Asiasi out of UCLA. Both selections came in the third round and the last time the Patriots did that, they ended up drafting Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez who formed a knockout 1-2 punch.

The absence of the great Rob Gronkowski in the Patriot offense last season was very evident. The best tight end on the roster ended up being Ben Watson, who has since retired. He had 17 catches for 173 yards with zero touchdowns. For now, the burden will fall on the shoulders of journeyman Matt LaCosse.

Matt LaCosse went undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft and was eventually signed by the New York Giants. An injury eventually led to his release and after short stints with the New York Jets, Giants again, and the Denver Broncos, he was eventually picked up by New England in 2019. He had a quiet year behind Ben Watson, and had a stat line of 13 catches for 131 yards and 1 touchdown. His production has to step up if he will succeed in a Bill Belichick system.

It is not fair to say that the current tight ends on the Patriots depth chart will live up to their predecessors. But for now they will be on a roster that has some very big shoes to fill.

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