Next Pats Podcast: Is Cole Kmet the answer at TE for the Patriots?

Share

The New England Patriots have been thin at tight end since Rob Gronkowski announced he was retiring in March of 2019. 

They relied on Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo last season and that didn't help them much on the receiving end of things. The 2020 NFL Draft is coming up in about three weeks from April 23-25, and you have to think Bill Belichick will be looking to pick up a legitimate TE after his Watson/LaCosse/Izzo experiment failed. 

Download the MyTeams app for the latest Patriots news and analysis

On this week's episode of the Next Pats Podcast, Phil Perry discusses why he thinks Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet would be a great fit for the Patriots while also discussing big-time talents from smaller schools with Emory Hunt of Football Gameplan. 

Perry seems to be very high on Kmet, and his description of the tight end will make you see why.

Cole Kmet, from everyone that I've spoken to, is the safest play at tight end in this year's draft. He is the number one guy from the people that I have spoken to that are watching this class closely, the guys that are really invested in this position specifically. So, out of Notre Dame, Cole Kmet. Over 260 pounds, 6-foot-6, the size is the first thing that strikes you.

He is a true, solid wide tight end. He's not one of these 235-pound guys that's going to come in and essentially be a big slot receiver for you. Cole Kmet is going to be able to block, he's going to play inline, but he also has enough athleticism to impress you as a receiver. So, this is not a block only type of player. If anything, he's probably more polished as a receiver than a blocker right now.

Listen and subscribe to Phil Perry's Next Pats Podcast here: 

Kmet could be the guy for Belichick, but New England may have to make a trade for a second-round pick to get him. They don't have second-rounder at the moment, but they do have a first and three thirds.

Although some have Kmet being selected in the first-round, Perry's latest mock draft says otherwise -- leaving the Patriots with a chance at landing the talented 21-year-old.

Whatever New England does in the upcoming draft, they'll surely address some of their biggest needs to remain competitive in 2020. 

Contact Us