New England Patriots: Jake Bequette a Two-Way Contributor?

By Dan Schmelzer | Jun 22, 2015

When it comes to things that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks for in players, versatility is near the top of the list. Whether it is offense, defense, big men or skill players, Belichick has always put a high value on guys who can fill multiple roles on the roster.

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With a transition to tight end in the works, defensive lineman Jake Bequette has a chance to become the ultimate weapon in Belichick’s arsenal. Early reports have been positive on Bequette’s work at tight end, and if he keeps it up, he can become an extremely important player with the ability to play both sides of the ball.

Oct 20, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick coaches against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets won the game 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Bequette was drafted by the Patriots in the third round (90th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He entered the NFL after a successful college career as a balanced defensive end for the University of Arkansas. As both a stout run defender and productive pass rusher, Bequette was named first-team All-SEC as a senior at Arkansas.

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When the Patriots took him in the third round, the pick appeared to be a steal, and Bequette seemed to have a bright future on Belichicks’s defense.

Unfortunately, things have not really worked out for him in his NFL career. He has shown some upside at times, but Bequette has struggled to impress enough to get on the field on a consistent basis. In fact, the Patriots released him prior to last season. His release led to him being placed on the Patriots’ practice squad, where he spent the entire 2014 season.

With depth issues, the Patriots used Bequette as a tight end on the scout team at times last year. Unexpectedly, the 6-foot-5 defensive end showed some promise on the offensive side of the ball, intriguing Patriots’ coaches enough to give him a chance to compete at the tight end position this season.

So far, so good as Bequette seems to be impressing everyone with his ideal size and natural athleticism that has made for a smooth transition to the tight end position. In fact, Bequette has really caught the attention of Belichick.

“Jake works hard,” Belichick said after the Patriots final minicamp practice, according to Tom Curran of Comcast Sports Net New England. “I think he’s really into [playing tight end]. He wanted to do it, wants to do it and he’s worked really hard at it. The techniques are different, but he played on the end of the line on defense, so he has some familiarity with that kind of spacing over there if you will and what it looks like on the other side of the ball.”

“He’s athletic in the passing game, he’s got good size and playing strength,” Belichick continued. “We’ll see how it goes in training camp. He’s made a lot of progress and I think he’ll be ready to compete at that position as well as on defense.”

Bequette certainly seems to have the skill-set to become a good tight end. He is a strong player with a nice combination of size, quickness and athleticism that would certainly come in handy as both a receiver and a blocker.

It will all come down to learning the technique and the finer points of the offensive game, but Bequette certainly seems to have a lot of potential at the tight end position. More than anything, Belichick seems to be at least intrigued with the idea of Bequette as an offensive player, and when it comes down to it, there may not be any person in the world more qualified to make that decision.

As Curran eludes to, the most interesting part of the statement from Belichick is his mention of Bequette as a defensive player at the end. He is focusing on his ability as a tight end right now, but Bequette has a lot of experience in the Patriots’ defense. At worst, Bequette could still be a nice complimentary depth player on the defensive line.

He already brings nice versatility as a defensive lineman, but if Bequette can become a competent tight end, he can save the Patriots’ a valuable roster spot by bringing depth to both positions. Versatility is huge in today’s NFL, and Bequette has an opportunity to take it to the next level.

Bequette is unlikely to be a star on either side of the ball, but if he can prove to be adequate on both sides, he can become an extremely valuable player for Belichick and the Patriots moving forward.

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