Benjamin Watson will reportedly sign with New England Patriots

For the second consecutive offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs were interested in Ben Watson and vice versa—only to lose out to another team.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a need at tight end and were interested in Benjamin Watson for the last year or more. The veteran tight end was near a deal with the team last offseason and was reportedly interested again this year. Yet somehow, for the second year in a row, Brett Veach is watching Watson sign with another team—this time, the New England Patriots.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that Watson is a done deal to New England to help the team replace Rob Gronkowski, who retired  this offseason, leaving a major hole in the Patriots offense. For Watson it’s a return to the team that drafted him 15 years ago.

Word had leaked already that the Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers, the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots were all teams that drew interest from Watson (and likely vice versa) but the Pats were first up on the visit list this week and Watson never made it any farther than that. He will join a contender in hopes of adding another Super Bowl ring to his resume after attempting the same last year with the New Orleans Saints.

The Chiefs have All-Pro Travis Kelce as their starting tight end, the very best in the NFL at his position. However, behind Kelce is a dearth of talent—or at least proven talent. Names like Deon Yelder, David Wells and Blake Bell don’t exactly inspire loads of confidence, so it’s not surprising to see the Chiefs linked with a veteran like Watson, even as he nears 40-years-old.