New England Patriots: Devin Asiasi has Gronk-type tight end potential

The New England Patriots won’t replace Rob Gronkowski, but Devin Asiasi they have a tight end who can be a similar type of target.

While former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is favored to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 while sporting a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform, another tight end will just be beginning to etch his name on the list of dominant Patriots tight ends.

That’s a lot of pressure put on a player drafted No. 91 overall in the 2020 NFL draft, but UCLA product Devin Asiasi has similar tools to that of Gronk, Ben Coates and Russ Francis.

He’s big, he’s athletic and he can catch the ball.

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If Tom Brady was still under center, Asiasi would be a shoe in to be a productive target with the Patriots. In catching 44 passes for 641 yards and four touchdowns in his last season with UCLA, the 258-pound tight end has yet to reach his full potential and what better place to reach that potential than New England.

With one of his strengths catching the ball being up the seam, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have a field day exploiting the mismatches he will cause given there are other weapons around him as well.

Steal of the draft?

It’s possible. As one NFL exec told Mike Sando of The Athletic, the New England Patriots got themselves a player in Devin Asiasi.

"“Oh, I love him. I think they hit a grand slam, but he fell to them for a reason. He was suspended. The character is concerning,” the executive said, via NBC Sports Boston. “But he is better in and out of his breaks than (second-round pick) [Cole] Kmet and a better blocker right now. He is a more vertical, wider-angle cut receiver.”"

Character issues?

Bill Belichick and the Patriots typically due their due diligence before taking a chance on a player. Yes, Aaron Hernandez comes to mind as a similar talent who slide due to character issues, but don’t expect a coach like Belichick to make a similar mistake.

With his ability to block and catch the ball, Asiasi is a football player first and foremost. A player who could be up there with Rob Gronkowski and Ben Coates if his dedication to the game matches his talent and athleticism or more of a Daniel Graham type prospect who never really lives up to potential.

Then again, as a third-round pick, there are no high expectations other than just being a player who can fill a role the team lacked since Gronk retired his Patriots uniform. Of course, there is hope he can be so much more. Perhaps before his rookie year is over, a Gronk comparison will make more sense.

"“No one is Gronk,” another executive said. “But if you are going to find a replacement for him, you are going to get a guy who weighs 270 pounds, who can block, who can high-point the ball. He is a good player, a really good player.”"

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In joining fellow rookie tight end Dalton Keene on a depth chart that includes only Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo, Devin Asiasi doesn’t have to be the dominant version of Rob Gronkowski. All the New England Patriots need is for him to be similar to the Gronkowski the team had during their Super Bowl LIII run.

A tight end who can block and be a reliable target when needed. That’s the Gronk-type potential I’m talking about…at least for now.

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