Aaron Hernandez

Hernandez finished last season with 79 receptions for 910 yards and seven touchdowns, stellar stats that are even more impressive considering he’s not the top tight end on his own team. That, of course, would be Rob Gronkowski, who turned in one of the best tight end seasons in NFL history. Perhaps contrary to popular perception, however, Hernandez didn’t take a backseat to Gronkowski as much as Gronkowski was just incredibly efficient and productive in a big-play role. Hernandez had only nine fewer targets than his counterpart, even though he played in two fewer games, and he was targeted more often in the red zone (25-24), inside the 10-yard line (17-7) and inside the 5 (8-2). The Patriots often use Hernandez in the slot to take advantage of his speed, spread out defenses and create single coverage on underneath routes. At 6-1, 245, Hernandez isn’t a behemoth like Gronkowski, but he is one of the quickest tight ends in the league, which allows him to blow past linebackers to get to the second level and then outmuscle smaller defensive backs once the ball is in the air. He has improved his blocking since entering the league, and while he doesn’t get a lot of push, he can seal off or hold a block long enough to be effective. Hernandez will benefit if Gronkowski’s ankle injury lingers, as he did in the Super Bowl when he was targeted 14 times for eight receptions, 67 yards and a touchdown. The addition of Brandon Lloyd means another mouth to feed in the passing game, but that could also enable Hernandez to get single coverage all season. Don’t let him fall too far just because he’s on the same team as Gronkowski. After all, despite Gronkowski’s record-setting performance, Hernandez still ranked fifth in catches, fourth in yards and fourth in touchdowns among tight ends last season in 14 games.

Hernandez had a productive first season last year while sharing tight-end duties with fellow rookie Rob Gronkowski before a hip injury cost him the last two regular-season games. More of a wide receiver in a tight end’s body, the 6-2, 245-pound Hernandez is a better receiver than a blocker. His quickness allows him to line up in the slot or at flanker at times, but Gronkowski's prowess as a blocker cost Hernandez playing time. Still, the timeshare netted Hernandez a reasonable 563 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and he was developing a nice red-zone connection with Tom Brady late in the season. But as long as Gronkowski is around, Hernandez is a risky play, exemplified last year by a three-game midseason stretch in which he had just two catches on four targets.

Hernandez, who has upside as a pass-catcher in the mold of Chris Cooley, fell to the fourth round of the 2010 draft due to some off-field concerns, so his four-year deal with the Patriots is structured in such a way that he'll do quite well financially if he stays in line over the course of the contract. Assuming he does, the team seems to have big plans for him in the offense, where he'll enter camp vying for a role along with fellow rookie Rob Gronkowski and veteran addition Alge Crumpler.