The New England Patriots have some important decisions to make in the tight end department.
One of them involves Martellus Bennett, who is set to earn a $2 million roster bonus when the NFL league year opens March 14.
Bennett publicly stated during the 2017 season he was considering retirement, leading many to predict the Patriots would cut him before that deadline to save themselves some money and salary cap space. He’s currently on the books for $6.2 million next season.
According to a report Friday from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, however, the 30-year-old’s intentions have shifted, and he now plans to play in 2018.
It’s important to note that Bennett’s comments about potential retirement came late in his disastrous half-season tenure with the Green Bay Packers, which came to a messy end when Green Bay waived him in early November. The Patriots quickly claimed him, and he played in two games for them before being placed on injured reserve, reportedly for a torn hamstring.
The Patriots now must decide whether they want to keep Bennett, who played well for them during their Super Bowl LI run in 2016. He has two years remaining on the three-year, $21 million contract he signed with the Packers last spring, but the Pats can cut him before March 14 at no cost.
Bennett probably isn’t worth that dollar value after his injury-riddled 2017 season, but he might be worth keeping for one simple reason: No one seems to know whether Rob Gronkowski will play this season.
Gronkowski, like Bennett, is signed through 2019 but reportedly is seriously considering retirement. The 28-year-old said after the Patriots’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII that he needs to consider his future before committing to play in 2018.
Obviously, that’s a question the Patriots need answered sooner rather than later. Gronkowski, who earned first-team All-Pro honors this season for the fifth time in his career, remains the best player in the NFL at his position and should be a Hall of Famer even if he never plays another snap. But if he does decide to hang ’em up, New England must make other arrangements, including deciding whether to let Bennett pocket his $2 million.
Gronkowski’s plan also affects teammate Dwayne Allen — who’s set to make $5 million next season could be cut after a disappointing debut season in New England — and will dictate how aggressive the Patriots need to be in free agency. Tight ends expected to be available include Seattle’s Jimmy Graham, Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert, Philadelphia’s Trey Burton, Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the New York Jets and Antonio Gates of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Bennett played in nine games for the Patriots and Packers this season, catching 30 passes for 286 yards and no touchdowns. He played in every game for New England in 2016, catching 55 passes for 701 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns to help the Pats’ offense keep clicking after Gronkowski’s season-ending back injury.
The Patriots currently have Gronkowski, Bennett, Allen and Jacob Hollister under contract for the 2018 season.
