I wouldn't. They were returning plenty of production at WR/TE. They let Harrison go but were returning Wayne (82 catches), Clark (77 catches), and Gonzalez (57 catches).
With Welker uncertain, Edelman at 37 catches is the second leading returning pass catcher after Moss. The 3rd best returning WR/TE is Aiken who caught 20 balls.
The Colts were looking for 4th and 5th options in their passing game at this time last year and found them. The Pats need to find more than 4th/5th options. Fortunately, there is still a lot of time between now and the season.
I was commenting on the WR depth chart, not the "WR/TE" or receiving "options". If you want to change the context, that's fine but do it in a fair way. Moss-Wayne and Gonzalez-Edelman are fair. Clark-Aiken is just being silly:
- Welker's knee was injured, not demolecularized. Unless there is a significant setback, why not assume he will be on the field sometime this year?
- The Pats actually do have a TE now and he managed 27 catches with Collins/VY throwing to him.
- Faulk is more of a receiving "option" than Aiken.
The Colts were short on the WR depth chart (Wayne, Gonzalez) and decided to devote a couple of mid/low draft picks to supplement them. Even after Gonzalez got hurt, I don't recall passing being a problem for them.
The Pats already have their Garcon (Tate) and now just need their Collie...and there are a ton of WRs like him in this draft (Price, Easley, Mitchell, Sanders, etc). So why is the Moss/Edelman/Tate/Price vs. Wayne/Gonzalez/Garcon/Collie not at least in the ballpark...and that isn't even including Welker's return or Gonzalez not contributing at all last year. Aiken becomes the Hank Baskett in this equation, not the Dallas Clark.
The Pats do need to get their "Dallas Clark" this year and I can't imagine anyone thinking Alge Crumpler or Sam Aiken is that guy. Unlike the Colts who had to scramble after Gonzalez' injury, the Pats have to ammo to trade for a TE (Olsen) or draft one relatively high (Pitta).
The problem I have is the perception that you can't integrate young WRs with a top QB and expect to win...when the Colts did exactly that just a year ago. Tate is no more unknown than Garcon and Collie were last year. This draft is flush with talented WRs and TEs and the Pats are flush with picks to get as many as they want.