The New England Patriots are among several teams who’ve shown interest in veteran tight end Delanie Walker, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Walker, 35, has been training for the season after missing the majority of the past two years with injuries. He’s a 14-year veteran and spent the last seven years with the Tennessee Titans. Walker is a three-time Pro Bowler that earned the accolades from 2015-2017. He had four consecutive seasons from 2014-2017 in which he recorded 800-plus receiving yards and had no less than three touchdowns.
Matt LaCosse just opted out for the season and it left the Patriots with Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene, Ryan Izzo, Rashod Berry and Jake Burt. New England doesn’t have any established veteran tight ends in that group and Walker could bring a level of credibility and knowledge to the third-round rookies — Asiasi and Keene.
Free agent TE Delanie Walker, 35, is training for the season and has received levels of interest from several teams, including the Patriots, per source. Had four straight 800-plus-yard seasons from 2014-17.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 3, 2020
Walker is an excellent run-blocker and if the Patriots could get Cam Newton on a veteran minimum contract, they could likely do the same with the tight end. Newton will need as many weapons as possible to make a smooth transition in New England and he’s missing an experienced tight end.
Walker in a Patriots jersey isn’t unrealistic by any means.
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