The Falcons traded tight end Eric Saubert to the Patriots yesterday for a conditional draft pick. Saubert’s time in Atlanta was defined by rare flashes at practice, special teams snaps and dropped passes during the regular season. It’s extremely unlikely the Falcons will wind up missing Saubert this year.
One team’s trash can be another team’s treasure, though and Bill Belichick has made a habit of resurrecting the careers of castoffs from around the NFL.
It sounds like Saubert is already settling in with his new quarterback, Tom Brady. Mike Reiss at ESPN reports from Patriots training camp that he caught a touchdown from Brady at his first practice.
Saubert may not have impressed for Atlanta. That doesn’t mean he won’t have a legitimate chance to thrive in New England, though.
The retirement of Rob Gronkowski opened up a big hole for their depth chart at tight end. Benjamin Watson is projected to start and Lance Kendricks will likely be the No. 2 option. Beyond that, there’s not much depth to go around.
If Saubert plays well enough in the preseason, he could carve out a respectable backup role for himself.
