New England Patriots: 5 third-year players with everything to gain in 2020
The New England Patriots may have something in Ryan Izzo.
The New England Patriots finally drafted some suitable tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft with the selection of both Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, but don’t sleep on third-year tight end Ryan Izzo.
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Along with veterans Matt LaCosse and Benjamin Watson, Izzo was a part of that tight end trio that didn’t do too much as far as production in 2019. The Florida State product had a couple nice moments, but overall, he really missed an opportunity to flourish as a reliable tight end.
With just six receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown, Ryan Izzo is not a player many fans are even thinking about when it comes to reshaping the tight end situation post-Rob Gronkowski, but the 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end out of Florida State has some unlocked potential that could really show in 2020.
Let’s remember, he did sit out his entire rookie season and only played in 6 games in 2019. Grants, some of those missed games were healthy scratches, but another year of experience and learning should set Ryan Izzo up as a blocking tight end who can catch a few passes.
With both Asiasi and Keene expected to be pass-catching threats, Izzo’s role as a third tight end is more suitable to his skillset. Of course, he has to work on his blocking as that was a concern in 2019, but if he is able to improve in that area, he can be a reliable contributor in the trenches and another target in the red zone.
As a player who is expected to be on the roster bubble, making the team as that third tight end would be a win for a former seventh-round pick.