New England Patriots Rumors: 3 players who could solve needs at tight end

TAMPA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch during warm-ups before a preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch during warm-ups before a preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots trade rumors Tyler Eifert (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
New England Patriots trade rumors Tyler Eifert (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Tyler Eifert

The top name surfacing in trade rumors involving the New England Patriots over the past few weeks has been Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert.

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The intrigue here is what Eifert was before his rash of injuries when he was big target for the Bengals.

After a promising rookie season in 2013, Eifert has only played more than 10 games in a season once over the past five seasons.  That one season, back in 2015, was his best season in the NFL in which he hauled in 52 receptions for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns.

You think Tom Brady and the New England Patriots wouldn’t value that kind of production in the red zone?

But the question is whether Tyler Eifert can stay healthy and whether there is enough reliability there for Bill Belichick to part ways with a mid-round pick to obtain him.

If he happens to be part of a bigger trade that lands the team A.J. Green, taking a flyer on the big tight end becomes less of a risk.

So far in 2019, Eifert has 15 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.  That happens to be less production than Ryan Izzo, but if he can maintain his health, one has to think Tom Brady will find some chemistry with the big target around the goal line.