After releasing David Thomas last month, the New Orleans Saints were in the market for a No. 2 tight end to complement Jimmy Graham, and on Monday they signed veteran Ben Watson to a three-year contract
Although Watson is just a borderline starter at this stage of his career, he makes for a fine second fiddle to Graham. The 32-year-old averaged 558 yards per in three seasons with the Cleveland Browns after spending the first six years of his career in New England.
An upgrade on the increasingly brittle Thomas, Watson can step in and provide a valuable weapon down the seam and in the red zone should Graham miss time with an injury -- Graham did miss some time due to a wrist problem, which required surgery at the end of the season.
With Robert Meachem gone and free agent Devery Henderson likely to depart also, Watson gives head coach Sean Payton the option of using more two tight-end sets as opposed to three- and four-wide formations.
Whilst no team can compete with the one-two punch of the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski-Aaron Hernandez tag team at the position, the Saints can now lay claim to the second best tight end partnership in the NFL.
Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
Looking for fantasy football advice?
