With the 2023 season in the books, MassLive will look at each position group on the Patriots, analyzing how the team performed in 2023 and where it might be heading in the future. Today we look at tight ends.
Tight ends: Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, Pharaoh Brown, Matt Sokol, La’Michael Pettway
Contract situation: The Patriots have almost no depth at this position going forward. It’s a rare spot to be in – even at the tight end position.
Last season, the Patriots had three veterans, Henry, Gesicki, and Brown, on their 53-man roster. They also had two younger tight ends, Sokol and Pettway, on their practice squad. Now, only one player remains under contract.
Before the Patriots regular-season finale, the team signed Pettway from their practice squad to their active roster. By doing so, Pettway is the only tight end under contract in New England. He has a cap number of $795,000 in 2024. None of that is guaranteed.
Henry, Gesicki, and Brown are all about to become unrestricted free agents. Sokol wasn’t signed to a futures contract, so he’s currently a free agent.
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2023 review: The Patriots had widespread issues when it came to their passing game last season. That negatively impacted everyone’s stat lines and that was seen from the tight end group.
Henry looked like he was bound for a big season. Named a captain for the first time in his NFL career, he finished second on the Patriots in receiving yards, third in receptions, and first in receiving touchdowns. Henry caught 42 passes for 419 yards and six touchdowns.
The 29-year-old caught three touchdowns in back-to-back games against Pittsburgh and Kansas City but suffered what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury against the Chiefs. Henry missed the final three games. Up until that point, this tight end hasn’t missed any time since signing with the Patriots in 2021.
Gesicki came to the Patriots on a one-year deal looking to revamp his career after a down season (362 yards and five touchdowns in Miami). It never really materialized for the 28-year-old in New England. He had some good moments – a game-winning touchdown against Buffalo – but Gesicki finished with 29 receptions, 244 yards, and two touchdowns.
Brown came to the Patriots due to his familiarity with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. He was a solid third tight end. Brown finished with 13 catches for a career-high 208 yards to go with a touchdown. He had a highlight-reel 58-yard touchdown against the New York Jets in Week 3.
The future: The Patriots have one developmental tight end on their roster, but either need to re-sign their veterans or completely overhaul this position group.
The bad news is that this tight end free agency class isn’t loaded. The top tight ends available will be Houston’s Dalton Schultz (635 yards and five touchdowns) and Henry.
The Patriots would be wise to try and lock up Henry. As a captain, he provided great leadership. New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s offense also worked wonders for Browns tight end David Njoku (882 yards and six touchdowns) last season.
The Patriots need a starting tight end, so the easiest path is to bring back Henry and add more depth in free agency and then the draft. If they don’t re-sign Henry, they should take a hard look at Schultz. If the Patriots land neither, the next best is a group that includes Noah Fant (414 yards), Gerald Everett (411 yards and three touchdowns), Tanner Hudson (352 yards and one touchdown), and Gesicki.
This team should add a tight end in the draft as well. The best available is Georgia’s Brock Bowers. He’s projected to go in the top 10 and could be drafted in the top five. There’s also Ja’Tavion Sanders (Texas), Cade Stover (Ohio State), Ben Sinnott (Kansas State), and Jahei Bell (Florida State).
There are a lot of changes coming to the Patriots offense. That’ll certainly be the case at tight end.
Part 1: Patriots quarterback review
Part 2: Patriots receiver review
Part 3: Patriots running back review
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