Patriots Mailbag: Who Will Emerge As New England’s Top Tight End Option?

Prior to holding their first organized team activities session open to the media, the New England Patriots made perhaps the most Bill Belichick-ian signing of all time.

The Patriots added wide receiver Gunner Olszewski.

Unless you’re Gunner’s first-cousin or a huge Bemidji State Beavers fan, you’re probably asking, “Who?”

Totally fair.

Olszewski was a Division II cornerback who the Patriots are converting to wide receiver. He fits the mold of a typical Patriots slot receiver at 5-foot-10, 178 pounds with a 6.88-second 3-cone time, so it will be interesting to watch his progression from defense to offense over the spring and summer — if he makes it that far. He very could well be the first to go if the Patriots add another player during the course of the offseason.

But all he’s looking for is “three hots and a cot.”

Olszewski is perhaps the biggest longshot on the Patriots’ current roster. Malcolm Butler once held that distinction too. There’s hope yet for Olszewski.

Let’s get into this week’s mailbag.

@DougKyed who do u think we’ll be our next best top tier tight end option if we don’t get rudolph?

— @Care2019N

Based on reports, it’s sounding less and less likely tight end Kyle Rudolph will be traded. If the Patriots can’t acquire Rudolph, then they’ll probably just stick with the crew they have.

New England’s current group consists of Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo and Andrew Beck. You can throw fullbacks James Develin and Jakob Johnson into that group too.

I wouldn’t call it a strong tight end corps, but it’s not terrible. Watson, at 38 years young, is still a solid player who has proven in recent seasons that he’s OK with being a reserve option. LaCosse probably has the highest upside out of the group. He had a solid practice session Thursday during OTAs and brings size and athleticism. Seferian-Jenkins has some injury concerns, but he’s shown glimmers throughout his career of what once made him a second-round pick in 2014. Anderson is an undersized flex tight end. Izzo has the highest potential as a blocker. The Patriots liked Beck enough to give him $115,000 in guaranteed money as an undrafted free agent.

There’s no Rob Gronkowski in the Patriots’ tight end room, but it’s not a bunch of schlubs either.

Call it a hunch, but we think LaCosse emerges as the top option in the group. Watson and Seferian-Jenkins will be competitive.

With the retirement of Jared Veldheer, how do you rank Patriots biggest positional needs?

— @whatthefokkens

I’d rank it:

1. Offensive tackle

2. Tight end

3. Wide receiver

4. Defensive tackle

The Patriots need to find a veteran option behind Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon at offensive tackle after Veldheer’s retirement. We saw Joe Thuney starting at left tackle with Wynn and rookie Yodny Cajuste out of OTAs on Thursday. That’s not ideal.

The Patriots have players like Cedrick Lang, Cole Croston and Dan Skipper behind Wynn, Cannon and Cajuste. There still are some offensive tackles left in free agency, but only a handful of them have experience at left tackle. The Patriots probably would probably a veteran swing option who can play both sides.

If the Patriots could acquire a top-flight tight end like Rudolph at the right price, that would make some sense. New England could use more certainty at wide receiver, and there still are some question marks at defensive tackle even after re-signing Danny Shelton.

Which players are gonna be starters at Defense? #MailDoug

— @MarioCabreraF

My current guess:

DL Lawrence Guy

DL Mike Pennel

DL Michael Bennett

LB Kyle Van Noy

LB Dont’a Hightower

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley

CB Stephon Gilmore

CB JC Jackson

CB Jason McCourty

S Devin McCourty

S Patrick Chung

I think DE John Simon, LB Jamie Collins, CB Jonathan Jones and CB Joejuan Williams have the best opportunities to crack that group.

Who leads the team in sacks/pressures? Also is Hoyer going to get cut?

— @Prostarr27

Michael Bennett. I’d give rookie Chase Winovich the second-best odds.

As for Hoyer, I would wager no. I think the Patriots ultimately will keep rookie Jarrett Stidham as a third-string option, and I like Stidham. I just question if he can take over the reins as the backup as a fourth-round pick.

Jimmy Garoppolo was the Patriots’ backup as a rookie in 2014, but he was a second-round pick, and he only had to leapfrog Ryan Mallett on the depth chart. Hoyer is significantly better than Mallett. (No, really. He is.)

Who is likely to start the year at LT? Will Isaiah Wynn get the nod or will it be an open competition between him and Cajuste?

— @philsweezey

I’d put Wynn at 1/8 odds. I’d give Cajuste 9/1 odds and the field 9/1 odds.

The field’s odds could rise depending on what veteran player the Patriots acquire at the position. Wynn is definitely the odds-on favorite to start at left tackle in Week 1, assuming he’s fully healthy.

Are you concerned about Brady’s pass protection with the LT situation?

— @BostAngeles

Not really. Wynn was a first-round pick last season. The Patriots obviously like him, and he was a fantastic player in college.

I’m not really sure where the concern is coming from about Wynn. He’s an unknown commodity, but so are a lot of first-year players.

what has a better chance of happening: Pats trade for Rudolph or Pats sign Gerald McCoy?

— @darealjulien200

McCoy, because we know he’s available. I wonder if the Patriots will be able to afford him, though.

A team like the Indianapolis Colts, for example, have over $57 million in cap space. They can easily outbid the Patriots, who have just over $5 million in cap space and probably would have to make a move to free up money to afford McCoy.

The same is true for Rudolph, by the way, who has a salary of over $7 million this season.

Do you think the pass catchers on the roster are better this year or last year?

— @concon_d0

Here’s who the Patriots had to finish out last season:

2018: RB Rex Burkhead, Develin, RB Sony Michel, RB James White, WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Julian Edelman, WR Chris Hogan, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Matthew Slater, TE Dwayne Allen, Anderson, TE Rob Gronkowski.

They also rostered WR Josh Gordon, RB Jeremy Hill, TE Jacob Hollister and RB Kenjon Barner during the season.

They currently have Burkhead, Develin, Michel, White, Dorsett, Edelman, Slater, Anderson and Gordon, plus RB Brandon Bolden, RB Nick Brossette, RB Damien Harris, Johnson, WR Braxton Berrios, WR Ryan Davis, WR Maurice Harris, WR N’Keal Harry, WR Dontrelle Inman, WR Jakobi Meyers, Olszewski, WR Damoun Patterson, WR Demaryius Thomas, Beck, Izzo, LaCosse, Seferian-Jenkins and Watson.

I’d say this year’s group has more upside. If Gordon, Harry, Inman, Thomas, LaCosse, Seferian-Jenkins and Watson can learn the offense/get healthy/stay clean, etc., they can exceed the production of Hogan, Patterson, Allen and Gronkowski.

But there’s a decent chance they can’t. Gordon still is suspended and is no guarantee to stay clean if he’s reinstated. Harry is a rookie, and first-year wide receivers haven’t fared well in the Patriots’ system. Inman is no guarantee to make the team, and Thomas is coming off of a torn Achilles.

I’m projecting the Patriots to start the season by replacing Hogan, Patterson, Allen, Anderson and Gronkowski with Damien Harris, Harry, Inman, LaCosse, Seferian-Jenkins and Watson.

I’d call that a push at best. Throw in Thomas and/or Gordon, though, and I might say 2019 has the better group.

Let’s go rapid fire.

Which offensive player would be best on defense, and which defensive player would be best on offense? #MailDoug

— @TheRealZiploc

Offense: Edelman

Defense: Chung

I’ll give honorable mentions to Dorsett, Jackson and Gilmore.

Re: Not extending Brady. Do you think they are just trying to cut bait on all the excessive back-charges on the cap and start clean next year?

— @riraho5

No, I think they extend him before the 2019 season starts.

What’s the best thing you’ve tasted on Doug’s buds?

— @PapaBurgundy___

Probably the Most Stuf Oreos. Recently, I really liked the Peanut Butter Lovers Reese’s.

Do you think that Shelton’s return decreases Byron Cowart’s chance to make the 53 or does Cowart fall into a different category as a DL with inside/outside versatility?

— @FanatiqueMV

Yes, I think it does decrease Cowart’s chances of making the roster. I’d probably give both players 50-50 odds of making the team.

Are there pink lemons?

— @Rwburnett

Are there blue raspberries?

At the end of the season, which Pats pass catcher leads the team in TD receptions?

— @Mr_Rainmaker

Harry.

Round Robin tournament between 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 teams. Using Super Bowl rosters, (eg Gronk out in 2016, Edelman out in 2017) who has the best record? #MailDoug

— @masonFLD

1. 2014

2. 2018

3. 2016

4. 2017

I think 2018 and 2016 are close. I’m giving the edge to 2018 for Gilmore and Gronkowski, but the 2016 team had a ton of good players too.