Eli Raridon, the New England Patriots’ third-round draft pick, just got handed a massive opportunity, and the entire offense might depend on what he does with it. Following a season-ending injury to hybrid tight end Julian Hill during a spring practice, the tight end room has a gaping void. This unexpected turn means Raridon, alongside veteran Hunter Henry, is now staring down the barrel of immediate high expectations as training camp kicks off. The Patriots’ 2026 offseason focused hard on giving quarterback Drake Maye more offensive weapons, and this tight end group is front and center.
Hunter Henry’s Age and Raridon’s Risky Rise
Hunter Henry is stepping into his sixth season leading this position group, and he has always been reliable. But at 31 years old, there are fair questions about whether he can keep up his receiving impact. So far this offseason, there haven’t been any signs he’s slowing down, which is huge because New England needs him to be a stable presence with so much unproven talent behind him. Raridon, drafted as another receiving threat, can go vertically up the seam and be a real red-zone threat. The catch? He’s a developmental piece who needs to make a quick impact despite two ACL tears on the same knee frequently sidelining him in college. The Patriots are banking on him.
The Patriots’ Tight End Scramble for Roster Spots
With Julian Hill on IR, the fight for roster spots behind Henry and Raridon is wide open. Jack Westover, who was the team’s fullback last season, is back at tight end after the Reggie Gilliam signing. The 27-year-old only has two career receptions, but he was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a receiver in 2023 at Washington. Then you have 2025 undrafted free agent C.J. Dippre, who spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad, and undrafted rookies Tanner Arkin and Jeremiah Franklin. Mitch Van Vooren, a second-year player, was also added right before camp alongside Franklin. Without Hill in the mix, Dippre or Arkin look like they have the best shot out of this quartet to make the final roster, primarily as blocking tight ends.
The tight end room is far from settled, and it makes you wonder if executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will keep adding to the unit. He believes Hill has untapped potential as a receiver, even though blocking is his strength. With training camp officially underway, every rep these guys take is crucial, especially for Raridon. How this group shakes out will directly impact what Drake Maye can accomplish under center this season. It’s time to see who is truly ready to step up and claim their spot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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