The Patriots have agreed to sign tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins to a one-year deal, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. 
The pact is worth the veteran minimum salary, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds ASJ chose New England over the Seahawks. Seferian-Jenkins received a $50K signing bonus and can earn another $40K in additional bonuses, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
New England is facing the overwhelming task of replacing All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, who retired late last month. Seferian-Jenkins, clearly, isn’t Gronk, but he’ll give the Patriots another option on a tight end depth chart that also includes Jacob Hollister, Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo, and free agent addition Matt LaCosse.
A former second-round pick, Seferian-Jenkins floundered until joining the Jets midway through the 2016 campaign. In 2017, ASJ started 10 games for New York, posting 50 receptions for 357 yards (both career-highs) and three touchdowns. That performance earned him a two-year $10MM deal with the Jaguars.
Seferian-Jenkins’ season with Jacksonville wasn’t a success, as he appeared in only five games before landing on injured reserve. ASJ posted only 11 total receptions and ranked as one of the NFL’s least efficient tight ends, per Football Outsiders. On the positive side, Pro Football Focus did grade Seferian-Jenkins as a top-11 run-blocker at his position.
Given the low level of the Patriots’ contractual commitment, signing Seferian-Jenkins shouldn’t rule out another tight end addition in New England. Several draft prospects — including Iowa’s Noah Fant and Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. — have been popularly mocked to the Patriots.
LFG
Alge Crumpler revisited.
Totally forgot about that guy
Um, how so? By the numbers, Crumpler was a four-time Pro Bowler who spent seven of his 10 years in the league with the team that drafted him and averaged 12.7 yards per catch and one TD every 9.2 receptions. Seferian-Jenkins was waived by the team that drafted him and has so far averaged a round 10 yards per catch and 1 TD per 10.5 receptions. By the numbers, at least, Crumpler was the far superior player.
Geez…at 6’6” I hope that he can at least block
He couldn’t early in his career but he’s gotten pretty good at it over time.
Gronk who? ASJ to the rescue!
Upgrade over the 2018 version of Gronk
Gronk had 47 catches for nearly 700 yards in 13 games last year. ASJ has had 450 yards over the last 2 years combined. He is by no means an upgrade over a gronk who only even plays 5 games in a season
Potential next All Pro tight end. Crafty old Belichek certainly knows how to get value for his dollar. Second round draft pick with 50 reception seasons in his resumé. Pro bowl here comes the Pats latest discovery.