While Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham set records last season at tight end, it could be Aaron Hernandez that represents the next phase of the position.
Hernandez is listed at 6-1, 245 pounds, making him smaller than prototypical tight ends, but he cannot be defined by a single position. Hernandez will play receiver, fullback and running back along with tight end.
Hernandez has more in common with a tight end like Dallas Clark than the Gronkowskis and Shannon Sharpes.
“I think they’re learning the best way to use him and you can see his role getting bigger and bigger each year,” Clark said of Hernandez. “That’s how things were with me with the Colts; each year they’re trying to find different ways to use the tight end and I think [the Patriots] are very similar in they have a veteran group and working together for that long, it’s [Hernandez’s] third year now, so each year that they get, they’ll have more things to go to. That type of relationship between him and [Tom] Brady and just getting that feel of what he’s looking at and things like that, that’s how that will take place and grow. But he can definitely handle the challenge; he’s a very athletic tight end.”
Hernandez may also get more carries out of the backfield with Josh McDaniels as coordinator.