After two years of ignoring glaring issue at tight end — the New England Patriots finally attempted to address it.
New England traded up in the third round to select Devin Asiasi out of UCLA with the No. 91 pick. Asiasi is 6-foot-3, 260 pounds and runs a 4.7 40-yard dash. He’s not the best pass-catcher in the draft, but he’s one of the most balanced tight end options out there. His size gives him the ability to run and pass block at an exceptional rate — and he really got his chance to thrive as a pass-catcher last season.
Asiasi recorded 44 catches, 641 yards and four touchdowns last season — compared to eight catches, 148 yards and two touchdowns in his first two seasons. His most efficient routes come from the seam and play-action, which sounds extremely familiar for a Patriots tight end.
New England hasn’t been able to fill the void Rob Gronkowski left after the 2018 season and Asiasi could be a start in replacing that production. The Patriots currently have Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse on the roster, both of which failed to produce for the team last season.
It’s very possible Asiasi is expected to make an immediate impact for the Patriots and he’s just getting started in exploring his capabilities as a pass-catcher.
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