PatsPropaganda

It’s not a total slam dunk after Gronk as much as I’d love to just say Chandler and Wright can get the job done. I was just as intrigued by Jake Ballard as I am Chandler and he ended up getting cut, so who knows. Still, that Chandler/Gronk size combo is exciting.

Wright feels like the most underrated guy on the roster at the minute. In a different universe he’d be getting a lot more hype as one of the best young receiving tight ends in the game, and now with a full offseason in the playbook, I could see him really emerging.

I still don’t think Hooman is totally out of that mix for his blocking and experience. Plus he seems durable and that goes a long way.

Fred Davis was out of football last year, he probably needs at least an injury or two to stick.

Then there’s rookie AJ Derby who is in that Hooman mold, but he’s new to the position and is likely headed to the practice squad I’d bet.

It’s really anyone’s guess right now. Obviously Blount is the one proven piece that remains, but I always felt he worked best in a complimentary role, though he seemed to do just fine at the end of last year. Maybe going against the Colts helps that.

I think the biggest thing is locking down the receiving back role in replacement of Shane Vereen. That’s such a huge role and one that requires a playmaker with smarts. Ideally, Bolden continues his fill-in duty.

Cadet and White are the two obvious candidates, but Mike Reiss pointed out last week that we shouldn’t rule out Dion Lewis either. I remember being really nervous about letting Woodhead walk and giving this job to Vereen, but that worked out fine. It’s just a question of how much of a threat the new guy will be or how much dropoff there will be.

I think Gaffney or Gray will be fine to get some carries after Blount. I can see one, but probably not both, of them making it.

Not impossible, but I think it has to start with him beating out Dobson in training camp. He did it last year, but a big part of that was Dobson’s injuries opening the door. There should be a roster spot for one of the two.

If he makes the team, then I think it’s probably going to take a LaFell injury for him to get “meaningful snaps”. Last year he played just 11 percent of the snaps, and most of those were him just running down the field trying to take the top off the defense. Of course, the touchdown catch against the Bills was a thing of beauty.

LaFell led all receivers with 81.6 percent of the snaps. And with so many talented tight ends, I think we’re more likely to see 12 and 13 personnel than we are four wide receiver sets this year. So it will probably take an injury to LaFell and even then it might be more the Edelman/Amendola show primarily.