Brandon Tate is set to benefit from the Patriots' trade of Randy Moss to the Vikings, as the next receiver on the New England depth chart behind Wes Welker. But who exactly is Brandon Tate?Tate was the Patriots' third-round pick, No. 83 overall, in 2009. Playing for the University of North Carolina in college, he set an NCAA record for most combined return yards (3,523). He could have set the record even higher, but he missed the final eight games of his senior season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his knee.
Still recovering from the injury at the beginning of his rookie season, Tate didn't debut until Week 7 of the 2009 season, but only played two games, making a minimal impact on special teams before getting hurt again and being placed on injured reserve.
So far in 2010, his second season, Tate has played all four games, starting two, with 135 receiving yards as well as two touchdowns on 18 kickoff returns. He ran the opening kick of the second half back for a TD on Monday night, helping the Patriots rally past Miami.




