New England Patriots: 4 position battles to watch in camp

Tight End

Sam Cotton, Jacob Hollister, Matt Lengel, James O’Shaughnessy

The competition for New England’s third tight end spot will begin to heat up as training camp gets underway. Matt Lengel, Jacob Hollister, James O’Shaughnessy, and Sam Cotton each offer a different way of contributing to the team and possess a diverse set of skills.

Matt Lengel joined New England midway through 2016 after spending the former half of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. The 6-foot-7, 266-pound tight end possesses a large build and the majority of his contributions last season came as a blocker. In Week 15, Lengel caught an 18-yard touchdown pass versus the New York Jets, the first of his career. He finished 2016 with 118 snaps split between offense and special teams.

The Patriots traded for Chiefs tight end James O’Shaughnessy during Day 3 of the 2017 draft. Similar to cornerback Jonathan Jones, O’Shaughnessy’s versatility enhances his odds at making the team. His experience on offense and special teams make him an enticing option at tight end despite his low production. O’Shaughnessy finished with over 100 offensive snaps in his first two NFL seasons, plus 287 special teams snaps in 2016. His high volume of snaps paired with low production indicates O’Shaughnessy’s a capable blocker and a qualified special teamer. Despite never amassing more than 10 catches in two seasons with Kansas City, O’Shaughnessy had 544 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior year at Illinois State.

Rookies Jacob Hollister and Sam Cotton both possess better athleticism than Lengel and O’Shaughnessy. Despite their admirable physical traits, neither of the tight ends will make the team solely based on their playmaking ability. With New England’s wide variety of receivers, the team will look for a third tight end who’s capable of performing multiple roles. Like A.J. Derby last season, despite his talent, the Patriot already had two playmaking tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett. If Hollister and Cotton can’t add another dimension to their game, their time with New England won’t last long.

Projected winner: James O’Shaughnessy

O’Shaughnessy has the ability to be a contributor on all four downs. He can catch, block, and play special teams.