Jake Burt – Syndication Server

Report: Patriots to host 2018 6th-round tight end for workout

The Patriots are desperate for depth at the position.

The New England Patriots are scheduled to host free agent tight end Dylan Cantrell for COVID-19 testing and a workout, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

New England deployed only one tight end in Week 8 (Ryan Izzo), with the potential of bringing practice squad edge rusher Rashod Berry into the role in Week 9. Izzo’s dealing with an injury and the Patriots don’t have many choices at tight end currently. Rookies Dalton Keene, Devin Asiasi and Jake Burt are all dealing with injuries as well.

Cantrell was drafted out of Texas Tech in the sixth round in 2018 and he’s spent time on the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinal’s rosters. He hasn’t played an NFL snap yet, but he had 1,873 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns over four seasons in college.

The Patriots are scheduled to host free-agent TE Dylan Cantrell for COVID-19 testing and an eventual workout, per a source.

Cantrell (Texas Tech) entered the NFL as a 6th-round pick of Chargers in '18. A WR/TE type at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds.

Pass-catching production in college.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 6, 2020

The struggling 2-5 Patriots take on the New York Jets on Monday night.

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Report: Patriots elect not to sign Jordan Leggett, after all

Will the Patriots look to sign someone else at tight end?

Despite reports that the New England Patriots intended to sign tight end Jordan Leggett, they will not add the free agent, after all, per ESPN’s Field Yates. New England was on the verge of signing Leggett following tight end Matt LaCosse’s decision to opt out of the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns. But the Patriots will stick with the players they have.

The group is extremely young. Tight end Ryan Izzo, 24, is the most experienced man in the group as he enters his third season. He has six career receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Otherwise, the group is comprised of rookies: Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene, Jake Burt and Rashod Berry.

The Patriots will not be signing TE Jordan Leggett, per source.

The team could look at other available options to add depth at the position, with Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi projecting for key roles as rookies.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 11, 2020

It’s possible — and perhaps even likely — that the Patriots will end up with only rookies at their tight end position if they elect not to add a free agent to bring additional competition at the position. And perhaps after they flirted with signing Leggett, they could sign a different veteran from the free agency pool.

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Patriots’ positional preview: Re-tooled TE group could surprise

With a few rookies and a couple vets, the TEs could be important this year.

The 2019 season brought nothing but disappointment from the New England Patriots’ tight end position. The trio of Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo, and Ben Watson combined for just 36 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers were good for 32nd in receptions, 30th in yards and 32nd in touchdowns for team tight end production.

New England recognized the need and went after a couple tight ends in the third round of this year’s draft and brought in some undrafted free agents as well.

No roster spots should be guaranteed for anyone at this position. An open competition between the six tight ends would produce the best group that should be able to contribute much more than last year.

Matt LaCosse

LaCosse’s first season with New England didn’t go exactly as planned. He appeared in only 11 games, as he dealt with constant injuries throughout the year. The 27-year-old totaled just 13 receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown and has yet to top 25 receptions or 250 yards in any of his four professional seasons.

LaCosse will need to show a lot of growth and the ability to stay healthy if he wants to make the team.

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