Rob Gronkowski has a new tight end buddy.
It’s been an interesting two days in Patriots Nation. One day after trading Chandler Jones and signing Chris Long, the Patriots acquire Martellus Bennett and a sixth round pick in a trade with Chicago Bears for a fourth round pick.
Teams finalizing deal, but Chicago and New England are expected to swap mid-to-late round picks in exchange for Martellus Bennett.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2016
After seeing him in Hard Knocks with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie, I always got the impression Bennett was somewhat of a space cadet and that always scared me away from tying him to the Patriots. But it seems like he’s matured a bit and the fact that he’s got just one year left on his deal should be huge motivation for him to (not) keep it weird.
If Bennett has a big year he should cash in next offseason, when he’s still just 30 years old.
Belichick Loves Him Some 12 Personnel
This is another attempt to position a tower of power opposite Rob Gronkowski as the Pats did last year with Scott Chandler to mixed-at-best results. Bennett had 53 catches and three touchdowns in 11 games last season, and those total are almost certain to go up. With Gronkowski pulling coverage, especially in the red zone, the Pats should be deadly inside the 20.
In 2014, Bennett had 90 catches and six touchdowns. The numbers are promising if he can assimilate into the Patriots locker room, one known to not take kindly to guys who aren’t on the same page as everyone else. Nothing wrong with personality, but the focus must be on football first and foremost.
This is the kind of move you never really see coming, in part because it was a trade, but also because the Pats already have the best tight end in the game. It’s telling that the team felt the need to actively pursue a second tight end who is a proven playmaker. Last year’s team, without the emergence of Chandler, were unable to run the two tight end offense with any consistency. Brady never developed a trust in Chandler and he was all but eliminated from the gameplan in the AFC Championship, playing just five snaps.
As a result, they relied more on three wide receiver sets, featuring more of Danny Amendola than a big tight end. This made the offense less physically demanding to play against, and now it would appear they’ve once again committed to re-establishing the personnel package that they had before Aaron Hernandez went on a killing spree.
Patriots % of plays run in “12” personnel (1 RB – 2 TE – 2 WR):
2015 – 42%
2014 – 39%
2013 – 19%
2012 – 41%
2011 – 54%— Alex Gelhar (@AlexGelhar) March 16, 2016
The Pats also signed running back Donald Brown today in a move that I hope makes him nothing more than a seat filler for a promising rookie draft pick. Brown has had two quiet years in San Diego after busting in Indianapolis as a first-round pick. This is classic Patriots, fill every hole on the roster before the draft so you don’t have to make any rash moves to fill holes.