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5 teams that should try to sign Antonio Gates

By Brad Berreman

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Antonio Gates #85 of the Los Angeles Chargers is seen running onto the field prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Antonio Gates #85 of the Los Angeles Chargers is seen running onto the field prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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3. New England Patriots

For a brief time, the Patriots had a very prolific two-tight end tandem in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Efforts to replicate that since then have fallen well short (see Dwayne Allen), and there are plenty of questions about health (Julian Edelman) and who else can or will step up in New England’s passing game this year.

Gates can absolutely still be a useful player, in the right role. The possibility of a two-tight end set with Gronkowski and Gates in the red zone is an intriguing one, and it would open up more options for how Gronkowski can be lined up to accentuate mismatches on the most important area of the field.

No organization in the NFL finds and cultivates what players can do better than the Patriots, with cold-blooded precision once someone is deemed to no longer be useful. Gates would surely embrace the “Patriots Way”, and New England is no better place to keep a Super Bowl ring as a legitimate possibility. Even in a depleted state, Gates is a fit with the Patriots.

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