New England Patriots: Top first-round targets in 2020 NFL Draft

Current TEs: Matt Lacosse, Ryan Izzo

After predictable speculation in the past offseason, the departure of all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski was more impactful than anyone could have imagined. Losing such a versatile star who operated as both a mismatch receiving target and dominating run-blocker will be sure to hurt an offense, but New England looked completely lost without the presence of an in-line superstar.

Jared Pinkney is a 6-foot-4, 260-pound multi-purpose tight end who has shown proficiency in both his run-blocking and receiving. Similarly to Gronkowski, Pinkney brings a special post-catch physicality to his running style, looking like a power-back 10+ yards downfield. This kind of play punishes defenses and “is capable of sweeping the legs out from underneath the wolf.”

Pinkney has proven to be proficient as a conventional receiver, showing to be a great hands-catcher who can haul in the ball away from his body, in traffic, and near the boundary. As previously mentioned, his after-the-catch production is one of his most impressive qualities because of the direct comparisons that can be drawn to some of the great tight ends in the NFL currently as well as in recent history.

New England has defined its offense around the relationship between quarterback and tight end (Brady & Gronkowski) and will need to try to rekindle such a relationship with new young talents. Jared Pinkney is the perfect launching point for a Patriots focal-point and could relieve Edelman of some pressure as a day one run-blocker and mismatch receiver.