The New England Patriots’ need at tight end is well known in the NFL draft community.
Nearly every draft expert sees the Patriots selecting Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro as a replacement for Aaron Hernandez and insurance for Rob Gronkowski in May’s NFL draft.
Mel Kiper of ESPN.com, Dane Brugler and Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com, Josh Norris of Rotoworld.com, Daniel Jeremiah and Matt Smith of NFL.com, Matt Miller of BleacherReport.com and WalterFootball.com all believe the Patriots will draft Amaro.
Todd McShay of ESPN.com, Charles Davis and Bucky Brooks from NFL.com and Rob Rang of CBSSports.com switch it up for the Patriots. Kiper, Brooks and Rang have the Patriots taking Notre Dame defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt. Davis sees the Patriots selecting Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Amaro would be a logical pick for the Patriots, but head coach/general manager Bill Belichick is hardly predictable. Amaro had 106 catches for 1,352 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, his junior season with the Red Raiders. The Patriots’ need at tight end was obvious in 2013 after Gronkowski went down. Amaro wasn’t asked to block much at Texas Tech, however, so Belichick would be drafting a one-dimensional player in the athletic tight end.
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