New England Patriots: Rob Gronkowski Hopes Martellus Bennett Gets Paid

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski hopes that his teammate Martellus Bennett lands a big contract this offseason.

After a great season in 2016, New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett is one of the top free agents at the tight end position this season. The Patriots acquired Bennett from the Chicago Bears in the offseason, and the move turned out to be a great one.

In 2016, Bennett rejuvenated his career after a down season in 2015. Bennett was able to total 55 receptions, 701 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns. Bennett was brought in to be a weapon alongside Rob Gronkowski. However, injuries resulted in Gronkowski only playing in eight games in the regular season. Also, he missed the entire postseason. Even without Gronkowski, the Patriots’ offense didn’t miss a beat. A lot of that has to be credited to Bennett.

As an unrestricted free agent, Bennett will be in a good position as a Super Bowl Champion to receive a nice contract in the open market. Recently, Gronkowski spoke about his teammate’s contract situation, and he is hoping for the best for him.

"“I’m hoping that he breaks the bank,” Gronkowski said, according to ESPN NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “Whenever you see a tight end break the bank, it’s good for the industry; it’s good for the position. You want to see the position grow.”"

Bennett is arguably the best tight end that is a free agent as of now, and that is certainly good for his wallet. For the Patriots, the chances of re-signing Bennett appear to be rather slim.

Next: Ranking Patriots' Internal Free Agents

Unless he is willing to take a lot less money, the Patriots will have to find another tight end to play alongside Gronkowski next season. Finally, for Bennett, he has done a great job to position himself for a big payday in free agency.