The New England Patriots have been the NFL team hit the hardest by the Covid-19 related opt-outs ahead of the 2020 season. The latest player to make this tough decision was starting tight end Matt LaCosse.
In addition to LaCosse, the Patriots will also be without key players like Dont’a Hightower, Patrick Chung, Marcus Cannon, and Brandon Bolden. Overall, they have eight players electing to opt-out and that’s by far the most for any single team in the NFL so far.
During his time with the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton frequently relied on Greg Olsen as a safety blanket. It’s important the Patriots provide the 2015 MVP with a reliable option to turn to at the tight end position despite LaCosse’s decision to opt out.
The Patriots’ emphasized the tight end position in the 2020 NFL Draft and it appears it won’t take long for that to pay dividends. New England selected Devin Asiasi (UCLA) and Dalton Keene (Virginia Tech) both in the third round. It’s tough to rely too heavily on a rookie but they have talent.
LaCosse was projected to start at tight end for the Patriots in 2020. If they seek to add another veteran into the mix ahead of the 2020 season, there are a variety of options that are still available in free agency.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the three tight ends the New England Patriots should pursue to replace Matt LaCrosse.
