New England Patriots: Top 5 pass catching tight ends of all time

Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates by spiking the ball after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to tight ends, the New England Patriots have had some of the best pass catchers over the last four decades. Who are the top 5?

When it comes to dominant tight ends, the avid NFL fan will bring up names like the great Ozzie Newsome, Mike Ditka and recent great pass catchers like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Rob Gronkowski. That is where the average NFL fan and New England Patriots fans will agree.

But, before there was a Gronk, the Patriots have had some great tight ends play in Foxboro, even when they were the laughing pit of the league.

During the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era, the Patriots’ offense has always featured tight ends who could both block and catch the ball. They have depended so much on the position that they have used offensive lineman and a defensive end by the name of Mike Vrabel at the position during goal line situations.

Go back to the late 70s thru the 90s and you will find tight ends who have either been the main offensive weapon or served as valuable contributors in the offense in some facet of the game. Whether they have worn the silver and blue or dawned the old Pat Patriot helmet, these are the 5 best tight ends in New England Patriots history.

Marv Cook (1989-93)

There were a few former New England Patriots tight ends who could be considered here, but there is one season by Marv Cook that put him on the list.

Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1989, Cook developed into a viable offensive weapon in his second season in the NFL. He followed up an unproductive rookie season with 51 receptions, 455 yards and five touchdowns. On a team with offensive weapons like running back John Stevens and wide receiver Irving Fryar, those numbers were more than serviceable.

But, it was the 1991 season where Marv Cook really exploded. In his first team All-Pro season, he caught 82 passes for 808 yards and three touchdowns. While the touchdown numbers were low, he emerged as a favorite target Hugh Millen.

Considering how dismal the Patriots were back then and the team’s lack of a big-time quarterback, Cook was a player who could’ve been even more successful in a better offensive attack.

Marv Cook went on to finish his career in Chicago and St. Louis. In 112 career games, he had 257 receptions for 2190 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Benjamin Watson (2004-09)

Drafted with the 32^nd pick in the 2004 NFL draft, tight end Benjamin Watson entered the league as one of the most athletic players in that year’s draft class.

Not only did he score a 48 on his Wonderlic Test, he drew comparisons to another player on this list yet to be revealed. However, his upside and battle with health issues contributed to a disappointing tenure with the Patriots.

It was not all disappointing. Following an injury plagued rookie season and an average sophomore season, Watson broke out with 49 receptions for 643 yards in 2006.

As a member of the 2007 regular season undefeated team, he had 36 receptions for 389 yards and 6 touchdowns. Not as great numbers as his production in 2006, but one could argue that he was more effective on that historic 2007 offense.

Watson was one of many options Tom Brady had that year. With explosive weapons like Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, the athletic tight end was not a top option. Later on in his career, Benjamin Watson did prove that he is an above average tight end.

Unfortunately, his most productive yards did not come as a member of the New England Patriots.

Overall in his career catching the ball from Tom Brady, he totaled 167 catches for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Russ Francis (1975-80, ’87-88)

A three-time Pro Bowl tight end, Russ Francis would probably rank a bit higher had he spent his entire career with the New England Patriots.

Drafted by the team in 1975, Francis spent his first six seasons with the Patriots before joining the San Francisco 49ers during their dynasty period in the 1980s. Known as a complex character off the field, Francis was pretty much the first pass-catching tight end to make a name for himself in New England.

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Following a successful rookie season in which he had 35 receptions for 636 yards and 4 touchdowns, Russ Francis transcended into a reliable target for a New England Patriots franchise that was stuck in the middle of mediocracy at the time.

At the conclusion of what was the best season in his NFL career with the Patriots, Francis called it quits following his sixth season. However, he was convinced to come out of retirement by 49ers head coach Bill Walsh and joined the team in 1982.

Not only did he win a Super Bowl (SB XIX) while with San Francisco, he finished third all-time in 49ers history for most receiving yards with2,105 and 12 touchdowns by a tight end. While his career turned out to be successful, one has to wonder how great Russ Francis would’ve been if he was entirely dedicated to football and played his entire career in New England.

After returned to finish his career with the Patriots, Russ Francis totaled 270 catches, 3,157 yards and 28 TDs in total while playing in a New England Patriots uniform.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Ben Coates (1991-99)

Talk about dominant. Tight end Ben Coates was an unstoppable force in the New England Patriots offense for over eight seasons.

Though he played the majority of his Patriots career catching the ball from Drew Bledsoe, one has to wonder what type of numbers he would’ve put up playing with Tom Brady. The big, fast, powerful tight end really emerged in 1994 after entering the league in 1991.

In that season, he had a whopping 96 receptions for 1,174 yards and 7 touchdowns. He began that season with three straight 100-yard games. What stood out about Ben Coates was his ability to get open when he wasn’t open.

That attribute was one main reason he holds the NFL’s single-season reception record for a tight in with those 96 receptions. Although Coates finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens and just missed out on the beginning of the Patriots dynasty, No. 87 did win a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2000.

Inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008, Ben Coates was really the first pass-catching tight end who became a focal point in the Patriots’ offense. He was so valuable, the team tried to find similar types of tight ends like Ben Watson. They were finally successful in finding a tight end even better in 2010, which leads to the No. 1 tight end of all time.

Rob Gronkowski (2010-present)

The New England Patriots all-time receiving touchdown leader, Rob Gronkowski cemented himself as he best tight end in team history before the age of 30.

Like Ben Coates, Gronkowski is uncoverable when healthy. Drafted in 2010, Gronkowski hit it off almost immediately with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Tom Brady.