The New England Patriots could use another tight end. After losing Rob Gronkowski in 2019, the team went the whole season with the underwhelming trio of Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse, and Ryan Izzo. This obviously wasn’t good enough, yet the Patriots haven’t done anything to upgrade the position. The NFL Draft is low on tight end talent, but Dayton’s Adam Trautman might just be the best of the bunch.
New England Patriots NFL Draft Targets: Adam Trautman
At 6’-5” and 225 pounds, Adam Trautman has the ideal size for the tight end position. The Dayton product tested well at the NFL Combine, demonstrating NFL-caliber athleticism and testing in the 96th percentile at the 3 cone drill. By all measures, Trautman should have the size and athleticism needed to survive in the NFL.
Being athletic is good, but it’s certainly not the be-all, end-all for the NFL. Based on his game tape, Trautman does a lot of things that you love to see from the position. The big-bodied tight end isn’t afraid to go over the middle, take punishment, and make contested catches in tight coverage. The Patriots desperately need somebody with that type of physicality, and Trautman should be able to contribute right out of the gate. While Trautman spends more of his time as an in-line tight end, he also has the ability to line up in the slot. This versatility should be a net positive, as Josh McDaniels loves moving his tight ends around the formation.
Trautman’s impact in the passing game is his biggest draw, but he can also help out as a run blocker. The Dayton product knows how to use his size in the trenches and can push around linebackers to open holes for running backs. Like 90% of tight ends, he’s going to struggle if he’s asked to block a 3-4 defensive end. However, if given a favorable matchup, Trautman can positively impact the running game.
Weaknesses
Adam Trautman is good, but he’s far from perfect. Even with his size, he’s surprisingly bad at beating press coverage. Additionally, he doesn’t break many tackles and tends to go down after first contact. This isn’t something you’d expect from a player of his build, and that problem probably won’t improve in the NFL. While a coaching staff could refine his technique, the added talent from college to NFL defenders will probably offset any fundamental improvements he makes.
Trautman excels at certain routes, but he’s not the type of player that can run any route that Josh McDaniels asks of him. The good news here is that there is a path for Trautman to improve this part of his game. Based on his testing numbers, Trautman possesses some of the best lateral agility in the class and has the raw ability to improve his breaks and cuts.
Adam Trautman is obviously no Rob Gronkowski, but he doesn’t need to be. The Patriots had arguably the worst group of tight ends in the league last year, so getting a league-average tight end would represent a considerable upgrade. Trautman doesn’t have superstar potential, but he has a safe floor and could develop into an above-average starter. If he’s there at 87, this pick is a no-brainer.
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