The New England Patriots have seen the departure of some of their most key weapons on offense this season. Furthermore, there has been plenty of speculation regarding tight end Rob Gronkowski's future with the team.
As a result, the Patriots have focused on adding some depth on the offensive side of the ball. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, New England has signed former Arizona Cardinals tight end Troy Niklas to a one-year deal:
The Patriots have agreed to terms with former AZCardinals TE Troy Niklas on a 1-year deal, source said. The 2014 2nd round draft pick recently visited New England.
Niklas, 25, was taken by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, which speaks to how highly rated he was coming out of college. However, he has had some trouble etching out a major role in the offense, in part due to injuries. Although, he is coming off the best season of his career after registering 11 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown.
While he is not expected to be a legitimate replacement for Gronkowski, he certainly helps add some further depth to the tight end position, especially in run situations. Aside from Niklas, the Patriots also have Dwayne Allen, Will Tye, and Jacob Hollister in their tight ends group.
New England has undergone a major overhaul on offense this offseason which was highlighted by their recent decision to trade wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams. Furthermore, Gronkowski's uncertain future only raises more questions surrounding the state of the offense. However, it seems the Patriots are prepared to make due with what they've got much like they always have.
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