After winning the Super Bowl, New England Patriots tight end and pending unrestricted free agent Martellus Bennett sounded like a player who is ready and willing to test the market.

"I'm going into free agency as a Super Bowl champion," Bennett told the NFL Network this week. "You know they overpay Super Bowl champions."

Could Bennett and the Miami Dolphins be a free-agent match?

One of the Dolphins' biggest offseason needs is at tight end, and Bennett is a player familiar with Miami head coach Adam Gase's system. Gase coached Bennett for one year with the Chicago Bears in 2015, which would make for a natural fit.

The Dolphins need a big, athletic playmaker in the middle of the field to help starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Bennett, 29, recorded 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns last season as a part-time starter after Rob Gronkowski was injured.

Signing Bennett also would provide a double bonus because it helps Miami while hurting New England, a division rival. With Gronkowski set to return next season, it is unlikely the Patriots are willing to get too involved in a bidding war to keep Bennett.

Another route for the Dolphins is to pursue a tight end via the draft. This is a deep year for the position with several starting-caliber prospects, including a pair of potential first-round talents in Alabama's O.J. Howard and University of Miami's David Njoku.

Drafting a tight end would give the Dolphins a chance to go younger at the position and to upgrade without breaking the bank. Bennett, coming off a productive season and Super Bowl win, would not come cheaply.