Veteran tight end Benjamin Watson is set to unretire and sign a one-year deal with the New England Patriots. He originally retired at the end of last season as a member of the New Orleans Saints, with his last game being the Saints’ controversial NFC Championship loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In April, reports surfaced that Watson was contemplating an NFL return, and now these reports have come true, as he signs with the team that originally drafted him back in 2004.
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
The New England Patriots selected Benjamin Watson with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He has played with the following teams since being drafted: Patriots (2004-2009), Browns (2010-2012), Saints (2013-2015), Ravens (2016-17), and a second stint with the Saints (2018).
Over the course of his 14-year career, Watson has played in 195 games. In those games, in total, he has hauled in 530 receptions for 5,885 yards and 44 touchdowns.
New England Patriots fans and the team’s front office should be very excited to have Watson back on their team, especially with a dire need at the tight end position. They currently have Stephen Anderson, Andrew Beck (rookie), Ryan Izzo, Jakob Johnson, Matt LaCosse, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and now Benjamin Watson on their tight ends depth chart.
