The New England Patriots may be on their way to filling perhaps their biggest roster need: tight end. The Patriots are hosting free agent Ben Watson for a visit on Thursday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Watson, 38, had announced near the end of last season that he would retire, but he appears to have changed his mind.
A return to New England would give Watson a chance for his career to come full circle. He was drafted by the Patriots in 2004 and played six seasons in New England (2004-2009).
During that time, he played in 71 games (47 starts) and recorded 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns on 167 receptions.
Watson played last season with quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints; he had 35 receptions while playing in all 16 games (four starts). He also recorded 400 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Watson has 5,885 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns on 530 receptions in his career.
He would 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.
