When the New England Patriots entered Super Bowl 53, they fielded one of the best tight end groups in the NFL. Rob Gronkowski, despite coming off a statistical down-year, was still among the league’s elite players at his position and a threat to be reckoned with (just ask the Los Angeles Rams). Dwayne Allen was one of the better blocking tight ends in pro football. And Stephen Anderson... well, he was a developmental depth option.
Now, that developmental depth option is all that remains from one of the NFL’s most talented position groups: Gronkowski announced his retirement in late March, at which point Allen had already been released by the club.