The Patriots aren’t sure if Rob Gronkowski will be ready for the start of the regular season, which could leave them thin at tight end.
They didn’t address the position during the draft, but a third of the nine undrafted signings they announced on Monday play the position. Among the group is former North Carolina State tight end Asa Watson, younger brother of former Patriots and current Saints tight end Benjamin Watson. Watson has Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which causes the ventricles of the heart to prematurely contract, and he’s had two surgeries to deal with the issue.
The Pats also added Justin Jones of East Carolina, who is 6-7 and 274 pounds but sat out the 2013 season for academic reasons, and Tyler Beck of Bowling Green, who had 10 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Oklahoma running back Roy Finch, Delaware cornerback Travis Hawkins, Michigan linebacker Cameron Gordon, Mississippi State linebacker Deontae Skinner, Indiana running back Stephen Houston and Oklahoma State safety Shamiel Gary are the other six new members of the team.
