NESN - We know Martellus Bennett will not be catching passes from Tom Brady next season. He could be catching them from Derek Carr instead.
Bennett and the Oakland Raiders have “heavy mutual interest” in one another as the tight end prepares to enter free agency, a source told the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe on Thursday.
After one season in New England, Bennett confirmed Wednesday night he would not re-sign with the team, thanking Patriots fans for their support on Twitter. He played in every game for the Super Bowl LI champions, catching 55 passes for 701 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.
With the New England Patriots trading for former Indianapolis Colts tight Dwayne Allen, teams around the NFL suddenly have a shot at landing the player he is presumed to replace.
Allen is expected to take Bennett's spot as Rob Gronkowski's backup in New England, and as a result, Raiders fans have reason for heavy optimism with NFL free agency set to get underway.
Tight end Clive Walford recorded 33 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns in his second season in the league in 2016, but Bennett would be an undeniable upgrade. With Bennett and the Raiders reportedly showing 'heavy mutual interest' in each other, the prospects of teaming a big-bodied receiving tight end with quarterback Derek Carr are intriguing at the least.
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