I've been on the "TE is a priority" bandwagon for a while now, more specifically a move TE replacement for <former employee #81>. They didn't have one of those last year (after Sudfeld bombed out) and it really hurt them. My thinking is that when you look at who the Pats have in each position group, the TE group even with a healthy Gronk is the one that they could upgrade most with the infusion of the right talent. Its not that I don't think they need upgrades at a bunch of spots (C, RG, WRX, DT, DE, "coverage" OLB, SS), I just think that the biggest impact from last season to next season (in addition to getting back a 100% Gronk) would be to improve their depth and capabilities at TE.
So, the choices for them are obviously (1) address this in free agency, or (2) address this in the draft, or (3) do both.
In my ("ludicrously uninformed," as the Fanatical Yankee is prone to saying) opinion, considering what I understand to be the current perception of the available talent level and the ease of integrating the new talent into the team next season, the best option for them to fill that position is in free agency, but obviously the costs are much higher and the pickin's are much slimmer there.
I haven't studied this well enough, but like I think most of the folks here, I doubt Baltimore lets Pitta walk. He would be my top choice of those out there (I'm assuming here that Graham will be so prohibitively expensive that he is not even a possibility for the Pats). Thus for me, among the possible available free agents, the prime candidates are (1) Chandler, (2) Pettigrew, and (3) Gresham (if he is cut loose, obviously). My concern here is that I think there will be a pretty hot market for the available FA TEs this year. The impact of Gronk, Graham, Vernon Davis, Julius Thomas, etc. in the past 3 or 4 seasons has in my view elevated the value of this position. I'd have to think that, for example, Seattle and Green Bay would be two of the teams that are looking for an impact TE (Seattle with a reliable safety valve for Wilson in addition to a healthy Harvin next year is a sickening thought). The Pats have too many needs right now, to get them to the next level and win the championship, to overspend for TE in free agency. Thus, I think their best option is to go for a second-tier TE in free agency and see how the draft plays out at the top end.
Regarding the draft - the subject of ths thread - I'm of the opinion that they should either draft a move TE with their #1 or wait until day 3 for a developmental type guy. IMHO there are really only 3 players worth considering as a #1 pick at TE: Ebron, Amaro, and ASJ. I really doubt that Ebron will be there at #29, and I would be shocked to see BB move up enough spots in the draft to be able to take him. This leaves Amaro and ASJ as realistic possibilities for their #1. Of the two, I'm a lot higher on ASJ than Amaro, for a couple of reasons. One is that ASJ has, in my view, a lot more flexibility for the Pats offense than Amaro. I can't see Amaro locking down a DE or OLB on a goal-line or short-yardage situation where they need to run the ball nearly as well as ASJ. The second area is in the red zone. Off what I've seen (again, ludicrously uninformed as my ability to discern this is), ASJ offers a lot more potential as both a blocker and an end zone target than Amaro. If Ebron and ASJ are gone, then I'd rather see the Pats wait and take a second-tier guy like Rodgers or Lynch. The Logan Thomas conversion idea is interesting, but a concern i have with that is that their TE coach is new this year, so handing him a project may not be the right move, and also this team is so close that using a roster spot for a project is not good timing, I don't think. I want no part of Lyerla and as for Harrison I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised but would not want the Pats to bank on that as the solution.
Thus, I'm in the ASJ camp. If here is there, I hope they take him. I don't see him getting past Seattle in the 1st round. If he isn't there, even if Amaro is, I'm hoping they go in a different direction - DE or DT if they stick with #29, or - my real hope, a trade down into the early 2nd round to grab someone in the WRX, DT, DE, "coverage" OLB, SS groups (I don't think they should spend a high pick on a C or RG, I think the value at those spots is better on Day 3).