Veteran TE Benjamin Watson to sign with Patriots, per report

The New England Patriots have found another potential option to replace retired tight end and all-time great Rob Gronkowski.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, veteran tight end Benjamin Watson is expected to sign with his original team.

Former #Patriots TE Benjamin Watson is planning to sign back with New England again. There are a few issues to work through, but those won’t hold up the deal. The former first round pick will be back home again.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2019

A first-round pick of the Patriots back in 2004, Watson spent the first six years of his career in New England. He tallied a combined 167 receptions for 2,102 yards and earned a Super Bowl title with the team.

Most recently, Watson played in New Orleans last season before temporarily calling it quits. He caught 35 passes for 402 yards. Watson is a few years removed from tallying a career-high 825 yards with the Saints back in 2015.