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Harrison Bryant Could Land with the Patriots After the Alex Van Pelt Hire
Many potential offensive personnel changes await the New England Patriots amid the recent hiring of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
That could include Cleveland Browns tight end Harrison Bryant following Van Pelt to Foxborough as SB Nation Pats Pulpit writer Bern Buchmasser noted. Van Pelt worked with Harrison in Cleveland from 2020 to 2023.
“A fourth-round draft pick by the Browns in 2020, he appeared in 65 games the last four seasons and caught 89 passes for 791 yards and 10 touchdowns,” Buchmasser wrote. “His production is not necessarily eye-popping, but his experience with Van Pelt’s system in combination with positional versatility, relative youth [he will turn 26 in April], and a likely moderate asking price might make him an attractive target.”
“To be fair, though, almost every tight end should be for the Patriots at this point,” Buchmasser added. “They have only one tight end under contract for 2024, after all, and even that one — in-season pickup La’Michael Pettway — is far from a lock to make the team. Moves will happen, and adding Bryant as a rotational No. 2 might be one to consider.”
If New England keeps the top three tight ends, it could cost the team up to $12 million or more despite the limited productivity in 2024.
Hunter Henry led Patriots tight ends in 2023 with 42 catches for 419 yards and six touchdowns. Henry will become a free agent, and that could cost the Patriots $7.5 million annually, based on Spotrac’s projection.
Mike Gesicki didn’t live up to his contract amid 29 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He had a one-year, $4.5 million contract in 2023 after he left the Miami Dolphins in free agency.
Pharoah Brown had one highlight touchdown in Week 3, but he was quite much of the year amid 13 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown. Brown only had a one-year, $1 million contract, but he could command more as Spotrac projects him for $2.6 million in 2024.
Former NFL player and long-time coach, Van Pelt, will be taking on the role of play-caller for the upcoming season. While he may lack experience in this particular aspect, there have been instances in the past where inexperienced play-callers have found success. This includes individuals like Bobby Slowik, Ben Johnson, and Mike McDaniel, who all stepped into the role without prior play-calling experience.
However, it will be crucial to observe how Van Pelt handles the game-day operation in Foxboro. Managing adrenaline, emotions, and processing information in real time are all key factors in being a successful play-caller. With a potentially young starting lineup, Van Pelt’s ability to make adjustments on the fly will be closely monitored throughout the 2024 season.
Overall, Van Pelt is known for his excellent feel for the game. Nevertheless, his performance as a play-caller will be a significant storyline to follow in the upcoming season.
