We all saw what Anquan Boldin did in the playoffs, and it suggests that the Pats sure could use a big and physical WR. Instead of spending big $$ getting one, however, perhaps Aaron Hernandez could fill that role. We know he's a gifted receiver and a tremendous athlete. But here are his measurables compared to other big receivers (all data from: http://www.nfldraftscout.com):
Name - Height - Weight - best 40 time
A. Hernandez - 6'3" - 245 lbs - 4.53
A. Boldin - 6'1" - 216 lbs - 4.72
L. Fitzgerald - 6'3" - 225 lbs - 4.42
M. Colston - 6'5" - 224 lbs - 4.50
C. Johnson - 6'5" - 239 lbs - 4.32
V. Jackson - 6'5" - 241 lbs - 4.46
P. Burress - 6'6" - 231 lbs - 4.59
B. Marshall - 6'5" - 229 lbs - 4.52
A. Johnson - 6'2" - 230 lbs - 4.40
AJ Green - 6'4" - 211 lbs - 4.48
D. Bowe - 6'2" - 221 lbs - 4.49
J. Jones - 6'3" - 220 lbs - 4.32
J. Nelson - 6'3" - 217 lbs - 4.45
H. Nicks - 6'1" - 212 lbs - 4.42
He would not have average speed for a big WR, but he wouldn't be the slowest of this group, either. And this is a list of excellent WRs. He's not a great blocker for a TE, but for a WR, he'd immediately jump to the top of this list. A lineup of Amendola and Hernandez wide, and Gronk and Ballard as TEs would give the Pats tremendous blocking with effectively 3 TEs (one blocking on a DB), and it would give the Pats a big outside target in Hernandez.
Name - Height - Weight - best 40 time
A. Hernandez - 6'3" - 245 lbs - 4.53
A. Boldin - 6'1" - 216 lbs - 4.72
L. Fitzgerald - 6'3" - 225 lbs - 4.42
M. Colston - 6'5" - 224 lbs - 4.50
C. Johnson - 6'5" - 239 lbs - 4.32
V. Jackson - 6'5" - 241 lbs - 4.46
P. Burress - 6'6" - 231 lbs - 4.59
B. Marshall - 6'5" - 229 lbs - 4.52
A. Johnson - 6'2" - 230 lbs - 4.40
AJ Green - 6'4" - 211 lbs - 4.48
D. Bowe - 6'2" - 221 lbs - 4.49
J. Jones - 6'3" - 220 lbs - 4.32
J. Nelson - 6'3" - 217 lbs - 4.45
H. Nicks - 6'1" - 212 lbs - 4.42
He would not have average speed for a big WR, but he wouldn't be the slowest of this group, either. And this is a list of excellent WRs. He's not a great blocker for a TE, but for a WR, he'd immediately jump to the top of this list. A lineup of Amendola and Hernandez wide, and Gronk and Ballard as TEs would give the Pats tremendous blocking with effectively 3 TEs (one blocking on a DB), and it would give the Pats a big outside target in Hernandez.