While the New England Patriots’ 2019 draft class features an intriguing mix of high-upside talent and players filling current needs, one position widely perceived as being undermanned was not addressed. Despite Rob Gronkowski retiring in late March, the Patriots did not draft a (primarily pass-catching) tight end to help soften the blow of the future Hall of Famer stepping away from the game at just 29 years old.
New England did add a tight end after the draft was over in unselected free agent Andrew Beck, but his signing hardly solves the larger issue: the Patriots employ an uncharacteristically thin tight end group with Gronkowski no longer in the picture.