So it looks like Martellus Bennett is headed to Green Bay. He was a lifesaver for the Patriots when Rob Gronkowski went down, making big catch after big catch, and doing so while playing with a cracked bone in his ankle. Ouch. He reportedly gets 3 years and $21 million from the Packers. The move comes one day after the Patriots traded for Colt Tight End Dwayne Allen. He’ll cost just $4.9 million against the Patriots salary cap in 2017. They also got back a sixth round pick from the Colts, and gave up a fourth-rounder.

On the Field Comparison of Allen and Bennett

Between Allen and Bennett, it’s pretty clear that Bennett had the better season in 2016. He caught 20 more passes, racked up almost 300 more yards, and scored one more touchdown than Allen.

But you don’t sign players to contracts based on what they did last year, you sign them based on what you think they will do for you next year.

Today is Martellus Bennett’s 30th birthday. Looks like we all missed the cake.  Dwayne Allen is 27. So Allen is younger and cheaper, which would be two points in his favor. (He just turned 27 on February 24th, so there’s plenty of time to shop for his card for next year.)

Now, to compare them at similar points in their careers – each with five seasons under their belts.

They’re actually pretty similar statistically. Bennett played in more games, and thus has more catches – but Allen has more yards per catch, and more than twice as many touchdowns.

The Patriots are hoping that the similarities continue as Allen moves into what should be the prime years of his career.

Off the Field

Bennett is an eccentric. A man who Boston Magazine once called, “The Wierdest Player in the NFL.” Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, and it seems unlikely that Allen will be able to do that. He did host “The Dwayne Allen Show” in Indianapolis. Seems unlikely that Bill Belichick would be looking for him to continue that in Foxborough.