Not since Aaron Hernandez was a free man have the Patriots been able to find a pass-catching tight end to complement star Rob Gronkowski's production.
They finally did.
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New England acquired Martellus Bennett from the Chicago Bears on Wednesday, as first reported by ESPN.com. And he comes at a bargain price for the Patriots, who will exchange unspecified late-round draft picks with the Bears to facilitate the deal, according to NFL.com.
Bennett, 29, is one year removed from a 90-catch, six-touchdown season in 2014. He struggled through an injury-plagued 2015, where his production dipped to 53 catches and three touchdowns in 11 games, but the eight-year NFL veteran is the type of player who fits the Bill Belichick mold well.
Bennett brings to the Patriots another red zone threat to lure defenders away from Gronkowski, who totaled 1,176 yards and 11 touchdowns on 72 catches last season. If all goes well, the 2016 season could be reminiscent of the days when Gronkowski and Hernandez, who hasn't played since 2012 and is currently serving a life prison sentence for murder, combined for 2,237 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns during the 2011 season.
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Tom Brady threw for a career high 5,235 yards that year with 39 touchdowns.
There have been attempts to duplicate such production, most recently with the signing of Scott Chandler last offseason. But Chandler was cut by the team earlier this month, and there was once again an opening to fill in Belichick's favored two tight-end formations.
The Patriots also cut ties with wide receiver Brandon LaFell this offseason, so another pass catcher was needed to supplement aging and oft-injured receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. They now have one in Bennett.
