Colts: 3 tight ends Indy can trade for if they don’t trust Mo Alie-Cox
By Jerry Trotta
1. Cameron Brate
The Colts can also call the Bucs regarding their tight end surplus.
The Buccaneers are absolutely flush with pass-catching options for Tom Brady. However, as good and experienced as the six-time champion is, there’s just no way he’ll be able to appease all of their appetites.
One could argue that Tampa Bay has three tight ends — Rob Gronkowski, OJ Howard and Cameron Brate — that would start on more than half (maybe more) of the league’s teams. As evidenced by the start of the season, however, the latter is going to be the odd man out as he failed to register a reception while playing less than 48% of the offensive snaps.
That sounds harsh, but it makes sense as Gronk and Howard are two of the most physically imposing tight ends the NFL has to offer. Taking all of that into consideration, it would make sense for Colts GM Chris Ballard to get on the phone and inquire about Brate’s availability.
With all due respect to Alie-Cox, Indianapolis simply cannot get by at TE with both Doyle and Burton on the shelf. If you ask us, the 51-year-old executive could do a lot worse than acquiring a player, presumably on the cheap, who’s found the end zone 24 times over the last four seasons.
