7 tight ends who Patriots could target in 2020 NFL Draft

The Patriots desperately need depth at the TE position, and the NFL Draft may be the answer.

The New England Patriots have yet to address their glaring need for a tight end.

Josh McDaniels’ offense was lacking an explosive tight end last season after Rob Gronkowski retired and the Patriots went another round of free agency without signing a prospect this offseason. New England currently has Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse on the roster — averaging a combined 517 yards and three touchdowns over their careers.

Jordan Reed, Delanie Walker and Charles Clay lead the group of free agent tight ends still available, but the Patriots have little cap space and haven’t jumped on any of them yet. This leaves the NFL Draft, and the Patriots have 12 picks to select a tight end or two.

Here are seven players the Patriots could choose in the draft.

Cole Kmet, Notre Dame

Cole Kmet is likely the top tight end in the NFL Draft this year and his ability to play a balanced game is the reason for it. He’s a 6-foot-6, 262 pound player who has excellent blocking skills, along with a high ceiling as a pass-catcher. He hauled in 43 catches for 515 yards and six touchdowns in his final season at Notre Dame.

Kmet will likely fall in the first round of the draft, forcing the Patriots to use the No. 23 pick if he fell down that far.

Adam Trautman, Dayton

Adam Trautman is one of the more realistic choices for the Patriots to draft. The team already met with him and he told reporters that New England is a franchise he could see himself playing for. Trautman is 6-foot-6, 250 pounds and put together an astounding 70 catches for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior season at Dayton.

Trautman will be one of the first tight ends off the board, but it’s possible he’ll fall to the third round — where the Patriots could potentially grab him with pick No. 87.