After reports surfaced Thursday morning about the New England Patriots hosting free agent tight end Ben Watson for a visit, the two sides have come to an agreement on a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Watson, 38, who had announced last season that he would retire but changed his mind in the offseason, fills perhaps the biggest need on the Patriots roster.
Watson returns to New England, where he was drafted in 2004. He played six seasons in New England (2004-2009) and later spent time with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens.
He played in 71 games with the Patriots, making 47 starts and recording 2,102 yards on 167 receptions. He also scored 20 touchdowns.
Watson played his 2018 season with quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints where he had 35 receptions while playing in all 16 games (four starts). He also recorded 400 yards receiving with two touchdowns last year.
Watson has 5,885 receiving yards on 530 catches and 44 touchdowns in his career.
He will bolster a tight end group that lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement and has a depth chart of Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Stephen Anderson and Matt LaCosse.
