The New England Patriots have a new tight end from Germany.
The Patriots have added Jakob Johnson to their organization as part of the NFL's International Pathway Program. According to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, "if Johnson doesn't make the Patriots 53-man roster, he'll be granted an extra 11th spot on the team's practice squad, but not eligible to be promoted."
Johnson played tight end for the Stuttgart Scorpions in Germany last season. He tallied 43 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to 12 tackles for the Scorpions in 2018. He's listed at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds.
Johnson played college football at the University of Tennessee from 2014 to 2017. He showed some impressive versatility with the Volunteers, playing tight end, defensive line and offensive line. We know Patriots head coach Bill Belichick values players who can fill multiple roles/positions.
The Patriots, even with this signing, obviously still need to upgrade their depth and talent at the tight end position before next season. Rob Gronkowski's retirement and the release of veteran Dwayne Allen have left the Patriots thin at tight end on the depth chart.
New England has 12 picks in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, including six in the first three rounds. They figure to be in the mix for at least one of the top tight end prospects in this draft class.
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