Pats Pulpit
Based on the New England Patriots’ 2026 offseason moves, the organization made improving quarterback Drake Maye’s offensive weapons a priority. In the process, the Patriots added to a previously aging tight end room.
Following an Austin Hooper exit to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, New England signed hybrid tight end Julian Hill. It also selected Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon in the third round of the NFL Draft. However, a season-ending injury to Hill during a spring practice left a void in the group that remains unresolved.
In the final edition of our Patriots training camp preview series, we’ll take a look at New England’s tight end corps in its entirety and discuss the biggest takeaways heading into the summer practices.
*Denotes player on the Pats Pulpit 53-man roster projection
Starters: Hunter Henry (31)*, Eli Raridon (22/R)* | Backups: Tanner Arkin (22/R)*, Jack Westover (27), C.J. Dippre (24), Mitch Van Vooren (25), Jeremiah Franklin (22) | IR: Julian Hill (25)
Hunter Henry is entering his sixth season leading the position group and has proved to be nothing short of reliable. But as he enters his age-31 season, it’s fair to question whether he’ll have the same receiving impact on offense as in recent years.
So far, there haven’t been any indications this offseason of that being the case, and with unproven depth behind him, New England will need him to remain a stable presence.
The Patriots drafted Raridon as another receiving threat to pair with Henry, who can also extend vertically up the seam and be a red-zone threat. Two ACL tears on the same knee frequently sidelined him during his first two collegiate seasons with the Fighting Irish; Raridon’s a developmental piece that will need to make a quick impact in Foxboro.
New England’s fullback last season, Jack Westover, is also returning and switching back to tight end following the Reggie Gilliam signing. The 27-year-old has only caught two receptions in his Patriots career but was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2023 as a receiver at Washington.
Rounding out the depth chart are 2025 undrafted free agent C.J. Dippre, who spent the majority of his rookie campaign on the practice squad, undrafted rookies Tanner Arkin and Jeremiah Franklin. The latter, just like second-year man Mitch Van Vooren, was added right before camp. Without Hill practicing, Dippre or Arkin seem to have the best opportunity out of quartet to make the final roster primarily as a blocking tight end.
While Hill’s strength is blocking, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf believes he has untapped potential as a receiver. However, the tight end’s injury restructures the position heading into training camp, leaving the Patriots without an immediate versatile blocker and receiving threat even after adding the likes of Van Vooren and Franklin.
As a consequence, the team might keep exploring the market to add some veteran talent. A few available free agents include renowned blockers...
