New England Patriots Make Excellent Move Acquiring Martellus Bennett

The New England Patriots are officially wheeling and dealing. A day after the team traded away star pass rusher Chandler Jones, the team acquired a player who might end up being a starter for them. They sent a fourth-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a sixth-round pick and tight end Martellus Bennett. Contrary to the Jones trade, this move is a big win for the Patriots and it should have a big impact on their offense.

Ever since the Aaron Hernandez fiasco unraveled, the Patriots have struggled to find a suitable complement to Rob Gronkowski. They have tried many options at the position, including Scott Chandler and Tim Wright, but nothing has worked out for the team. While Tom Brady has been able to make use of those players, he will definitely benefit from having a superior talent like Bennett around.

Bennett played well in three seasons for the Bears, but he just happened to be overtaken on the depth chart this past season. After being injured in Week 11, Bennett was unable to return to the field at full strength. During that time, Zach Miller made a huge impact on the Bears’ offense and developed a great rapport with Jay Cutler in the process. His ascension and re-signing with the team made Bennett expandable, which is why he was on the trade block this offseason.

Now, Bennett will find himself in an unfamiliar position. He will be the second option at tight end for the first time since his time with the Dallas Cowboys in 2011, but he will also be playing on a major contender. He may not enjoy playing second fiddle to start his Patriots career, but he may find himself open a lot more. If he starts making a lot of catches and putting up big numbers, then he will certainly be happy. And if he can put up numbers similar to those he produced with the Bears, then it is safe to assume that the Patriots will be happy as well.

This move is terrific for the Patriots. They are acquiring one of the better tight ends in the league just to move down two rounds in the draft. They are taking relatively little risk in this trade, and unlike the Jones trade, they have added a player who will improve their chances of winning a Super Bowl this season. Without a doubt, the Patriots are the winners of this trade.