Jordan

Leggett

The Patriots have been in the market for a veteran tight end following Matt LaCosse’s opt-out. It’s actually good news for third-round rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene as Leggett, Tampa Bay’s fifth-round selection in 2017, failed to play a single snap last year and offers minimal pushback to playing time. If the 25-year-old is New England’s only response to address that position, Asiasi remains an intriguing late-round flier in deeper fantasy leagues.

The Jets’ fifth-round pick in 2017, Leggett spent a brief stint on Tampa Bay’s active roster last year but failed to play a single snap. He’ll land back on their practice squad barring a monumental showing during the team’s offseason program.

The Bucs are quite healthy heading into what should be a high-scoring affair. Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard are way ahead of Leggett on the depth chart.

A 24-year-old with some upside, Leggett was a quality waiver claim for the Bucs this offseason. With O.J. Howard (hamstring) banged up, Leggett is on track to make his season debut this Sunday against Seattle. Leggett will backup Cameron Brate if Howard, who missed Wednesday’s practice, is inactive.

The New York Daily News reports five teams put in a claim. Although still a 24-year-old upside prospect, Leggett has landed in the wrong place to reach it. O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate don’t have any targets to spare.

Ex-GM Mike Maccagnan’s fifth-round pick in 2017, Leggett was simply another domino that fell following the former’s release. Although a knee issue wiped his rookie season off the map entirely, Leggett’s 14/114/1 through 15 games (and four starts) in his second year fell short of expectations. He’ll land as a raw prospect elsewhere.

Leggett (6’6/258) made 38 starts for the Tigers, tallying a 112-1,598-18 (14.3 YPR) receiving line and earning first-team All-ACC as both a junior and senior. PFF College charted Leggett with nine drops among 109 catchable targets over his final three years. A solid college receiving tight end whose NFL transition is questionable, Leggett was a poor run blocker on tape and has zero special teams experience. He was allegedly nicknamed “Lazy Leggett” at Clemson for poor work habits. At his Pro Day, Leggett ran 4.71 with passable vertical (33") and broad (9’11") jump numbers. Neither a run-game asset nor a dominant receiver, Leggett would do well to carve out a Jermaine Gresham-like career.

Hughes came to that conclusion after watching Leggett struggle at rookie camp. While Hughes was impressed with Leggett’s physical makeup, he criticized Leggett’s “technique” and found his route running “rough.” Hughes also noted Leggett dropped a “handful of easy passes” in receiving drills. Regardless of whether he’s ready, Leggett will have a chance to see the field right away, particularly with Austin Seferian-Jenkins facing a two-game suspension to begin the year.

It is a big but expected departure from ex-OC Chan Gailey, whose offense targeted a tight end just 26 times last season. Leggett does not profile as a dynamic receiver in the NFL, but he should have a good shot at an early role with Austin Seferian-Jenkins suspended the first two games. Even so, the Jets’ offense is not good enough to get excited about either player in fantasy.

Leggett is not a particularly good blocker or athlete and reportedly struggled at rookie camp, but he has a shot at early playing time with Austin Seferian-Jenkins facing a two-game suspension to begin the year and not much else on the depth chart. Even so, he is only a factor in Dynasty formats.