Patriots Claim Jake Ballard, Now Have 4 of The Top 24 Tight Ends

The Patriots put a claim on waived, injured TE Jake Ballard. Ballard had been waived by the Giantsafter failing his physical due to his knee injury.

Ballard likely won’t play in 2012, but if he and newly-acquired Bo Scaife are still on this roster in 2013, the Pats will have two of my top 4 TEs (Rob Gronkowski #1, #2 in fantasy; Aaron Hernandez #4) and 4 of my top 24 (Ballard #9, Scaife #24).

Before anyone thinks that that’s simply too much talent, don’t forget that Belichick finds ways to get talented players on the field, and the Patriots once ran a run play to TE Ben Watson in which WR Randy Moss was the lead blocker…in a postseason game. Josh McDaniels can come up with sets to use Ballard.

Ballard came in undrafted last year and caught 604 yards and 4 TDs, playing an important role on a team that won the Super Bowl. He had 5 catches for 43 yards in the postseason. The Giants planned on re-signing him had he cleared waivers.