NFL: Breaking down the 2015 New England Patriots

Wide Receivers—Tight Ends

WR Starters: Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola

TE Starter: Rob Gronkowski

WR Depth: Brian Tyms, Matt Slater, Greg Orton, Aaron Dobson, Jonathan Krause, Brandon Gibson, Chris Harper [R], Devin Gardner [R]

TE Depth: Michael Hoomanawanui, Scott Chandler, Fred Davis, A.J. Derby [R]

After a few seasons of chaos, it appears as if the New England Patriots have settled into a consistent group of receivers.

Julian Edelman has had two tremendous seasons in a row, though he did sustain a concussion in Week 15 and that’s always worth noting. Barring injury, we can expect quarterback Tom Brady to use Edelman often again this season and his sure-handedness and ability after the catch make him a dangerous option.

After years of mediocrity and disappointing totals, Brandon LaFell seemed to finally get his groove with the Patriots. Whether the coaching staff used him better than the Carolina Panthers did, or Tom Brady made a huge difference, or the light simply came on finally, LaFell actually looked like the guy we thought he could be when he entered the NFL. His 957 yards on 74 catches were by far the best totals of his career, as were his seven touchdowns. As an integral part of the Super Bowl win last February, LaFell will continue to find himself frequently targeted by Brady.

Danny Amendola restructured his deal with the Patriots after two very disappointing seasons with them, including an injury-plagued 2013. By the time he got healthy, Edelman and LaFell had taken over most of the receiving duties.  Amendola had just one decent game last season—Week 16 against the Jets—and a solid game in the Super Bowl. He’s going to have to work hard to see the end of his current contract given how he has struggled but if he can stay healthy, the Patriots clearly have a role in mind or he wouldn’t be there.

Aaron Dobson spent a lot of 2014 hurt, squandering some momentum he had built in 2013 as a rookie. New England didn’t draft any receivers this year (though they signed a few street free agents), so there is a little less competition for Dobson. He needs to stay healthy though, and he has to have a good preseason to stick around in the future.

Brian Tyms had a huge preseason opener and then was suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season for failing a drug test. He didn’t play much after that, but was talked up by Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels a few times. Tyms has good size and speed and looked great in the preseason, so he clearly has upside. It may take a while for him to get his chance to show it though.

Josh Boyce fell behind Kenbrell Thompkins last August and given that Thompkins is gone, you would be right to think that doesn’t bode well for Boyce. He makes too many mental mistakes and only came off the practice squad when Edelman and LaFell were both banged up. Boyce has a lot of speed and was productive at TCU, but that has never translated to the pro game.

Brandon Gibson was doing some good things for the Miami Dolphins before tearing his patellar tendon in 2013, but he hasn’t been the same since. Gibson made some nice catches out of the slot for Miami, but he’s going to have a hard time sticking in New England unless he can return to his old form.

Jonathan Krause has been a practice squad dweller since entering the NFL last season and while he was quick off the snap in college, he was only a part-timer at Vanderbilt, runs sloppy routes and doesn’t contribute much on special teams. Matt Slater is only a special teams player and has caught exactly one pass in his NFL career. Greg Orton was out last season with an Achilles tear and was waived/injured by the Patriots last season. He also suffered an ankle injury in Denver and at 28, he’s a longshot to make the roster against younger, healthier and more productive players.  Undrafted free agent Chris Harper is an outside receiver, who doesn’t have the build to hack it there and will probably have to move inside to the slot. Fellow rookie Devin Gardner was a quarterback at Michigan, and has a long way to go before being ready to hit the field. Expect him to end up on the practice squad.

Rob Gronkwoski was mostly healthy in 2014 and was rewarded with a hugely productive season and a Comebacker Player of the Year Award. Oh, and a Super Bowl ring. This season will see Gronkowski as the centerpiece and second favorite target of Tom Brady again (Julian Edelman being the only player with more targets). His high athleticism and brutal play-style might shorten his career over the long haul, but it makes him a nightmare to match up with on defense.

There are a lot of question marks behind Gronkowski. Michael Hoomanawanu is a blocker, and that’s it. Nobody is going to ask him to catch the ball more than on rare occasions.

The Patriots brought in former Buffalo Bill Scott Chandler, a big-bodied tight end who isn’t a terribly special player overall. He can catch the ball well and use his body to block out defenders but he’s a low-ceiling guy. They also added Fred Davis, who was suspended for last season after issues with failed drug tests, a DUI and domestic violence charges. It’s been so long since Davis’ really good 2011 that it’s hard to imagine him making the roster.

Finally there is rookie A.J. Derby, an athletic, tough, pass-catching tight end who is a little raw having played as a backup quarterback his first year in Arkansas before moving to tight end. He’s got good hands and speed, so while he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, he could become a contributor down the line.

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