The New England Patriots have bolstered their tight end depth, as free agent tight end Benjamin Watson is reportedly planning on signing with the team that drafted him in 2004.
Patriots intend to sign former Saints’ tight end Ben Watson to a one-year, $3 million deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 9, 2019
According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, the deal is for one-year and $3 million, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Pro Football Talk) also confirming the news. The one-year deal will allow Watson to have one last shot at potentially walking away from the NFL with another Super Bowl ring.
While Watson initially announced that he would be retiring from the league, reports from around the league seemed to suggest that Watson would be having a change of heart at some point, which he did. At 38 years old, Watson would be one of the three oldest offensive skill position players to play in this upcoming NFL season. His new teammate, Tom Brady, will be 42 as the Patriots enter the 2019 NFL season, and Antonio Gates – should he play – will also be 38.
A 14-year NFL veteran, Watson will join a Patriots team that is desperately seeking some help in the tight end department, especially with the retirement of Rob Gronkowski this offseason affecting the team. Throughout his career, Watson has hauled in 530 catches for 5,885 yards and 44 touchdowns.
Four of his last five seasons have been spent with the New Orleans Saints, with Watson also playing for the Baltimore Ravens in 2017. Now, it looks as if he might be ready to play one last year with the team that initially drafted him, and end his career on a high note.
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