New England Patriots: Five 2018 NFL Draft picks to watch in 2019
5. Ryan Izzo
Seventh-round pick Ryan Izzo is the one player on this list who will likely have to fight for a roster spot but should have a good shot to battle both Jacob Hollister and newly acquired veteran tight end Matt LaCosse for a backup role.
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What makes the 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end out of Florida State a player to watch is his ability to block and catch passes out of the backfield.
In his final season at Florida State, Izzo caught 20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. His strong blocking, however, had to factor in when the Patriots selected him in the seventh round.
Given the uncertainly of Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Izzo could end up finding a larger role in 2019 given his size and ability to be a combination tight end.
Back to full health after being placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, the 23-year-old tight end is hoping to etch a role on the 2019 New England Patriots roster. With the current depth chart, even if Gronkowski returns, it appears he has a strong shot to do so.
Furthermore, he could be the type of blocking tight end the team loves having on the roster, especially after parting ways with Dwayne Allen.