The recent appointment of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt brings the possibility of significant offensive lineup adjustments for the New England Patriots. One potential change mentioned by SB Nation Pats Pulpit writer Bern Buchmasser is the prospect of Cleveland Browns tight end Harrison Bryant joining the Patriots in Foxborough. Van Pelt and Bryant previously collaborated in Cleveland from 2020 to 2023.
Buchmasser highlighted Bryant’s background as a fourth-round draft pick by the Browns in 2020, emphasizing his participation in 65 games over the past four seasons, where he secured 89 receptions for 791 yards and 10 touchdowns. While his statistical performance may not be extraordinary, his familiarity with Van Pelt’s system, positional flexibility, relative youth (set to turn 26 in April), and a presumably reasonable price tag could make him an appealing acquisition.
Considering the Patriots’ current tight end situation, with only one player under contract for 2024 (La’Michael Pettway, acquired during the season), Buchmasser suggested that almost any tight end could be a viable option for the team. He acknowledged that moves are imminent, and adding Bryant as a rotational No. 2 tight end is a possibility worth considering.
Patriots Could Easily Spend $12 Million on Re-Signing Tight Ends
#NFL TE 2024 Free Agents #Patriots Hunter Henry#Texans Dalton Schultz#Chargers Gearld Everett#Patriots Mike Gesicki#Seahawks Noah Fant #Raiders Austin Hooper #Bengals Irv Smith Jr.#49ers Ross Dwelley #Browns Harrison Bryant#Bengals Drew Sample #Saints Jimmy Graham pic.twitter.com/mOLga7hBpv
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 25, 2024
Retaining the top three tight ends for the New England Patriots in 2024 may result in a significant financial commitment, potentially exceeding $12 million, despite their limited production. In the 2023 season, Hunter Henry led the Patriots’ tight ends with 42 receptions, 419 yards, and six touchdowns. As Henry is set to become a free agent, the projected cost for the Patriots to retain him could be as high as $7.5 million annually, according to Spotrac.
Mike Gesicki, despite falling short of expectations with 29 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns, had a one-year, $4.5 million contract in 2023 after joining the team from the Miami Dolphins in free agency.
Pharoah Brown, who contributed a notable touchdown in Week 3, had a quieter overall performance throughout the year, recording 13 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown. Despite his one-year, $1 million contract, Spotrac anticipates an increased cost of $2.6 million for Brown in 2024, suggesting he could command a higher salary.
The cumulative expenses associated with retaining these tight ends underscore the financial considerations and potential challenges for the Patriots in balancing productivity and cost for the upcoming season.
Play Calling Experience a Concern for Alex Van Pelt
"No insult to Nick Caley, I feel better about it than I would if it was Nick Caley."@tomecurran reacts to the Patriots hiring Alex Van Pelt as new OC, & @AlbertBreer gives insight into his departure from Cleveland pic.twitter.com/3CoXbLhEDi
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) February 1, 2024
While Alex Van Pelt boasts a decade-long NFL playing career and 17 years of coaching experience, concerns have been raised about his limited play-calling background, as highlighted by NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. Van Pelt took on play-calling duties for just two games in 2020 when head coach Kevin Stefanski was absent, with Stefanski typically handling the play-calling otherwise.
Perry acknowledged instances where inexperienced offensive play-callers have found immediate success in the NFL, citing examples like Bobby Slowik in Houston, Ben Johnson in Detroit, and Miami’s Mike McDaniel, who had no prior play-calling experience before becoming the head coach of the Dolphins.
However, Perry emphasized the need to observe how the game-day operation unfolds under Van Pelt’s leadership in Foxboro. Managing adrenaline, emotions, processing information, and making real-time adjustments are crucial aspects of play-calling. While Van Pelt is recognized for having an excellent feel for the game, Perry stressed that monitoring how he navigates the play-calling responsibilities, particularly with a potentially young starting quarterback, will be a key storyline to follow throughout the 2024 season.
