The New England Patriots beefed up their tight end room this week, officially signing rookie Jeremiah Franklin and simultaneously waiving rookie wide receiver Jimmy Kibble with an injury designation. These moves went down right on the eve of their 2026 training camp. They’re setting up one of the most brutal position battles we’ll see anywhere. Their tight end depth chart is now seven players deep.
The Tight End Gauntlet Is Officially On
Talk about a crowded house! The Patriots sought to add tight end depth after losing Julian Hill to a season-ending injury this offseason. They brought in two new faces: Franklin’s signing was official, and second-year man Mitch Van Vooren also joined on consecutive days. This means their tight end room is now stacked with seven players: Hunter Henry, Jack Westover, Eli Raridon, C.J. Dippre, Tanner Arkin, Mitch Van Vooren, and Jeremiah Franklin. Julian Hill is on IR. Hunter Henry is the undisputed starter. Third-round rookie Eli Raridon is also locked into a roster spot. That leaves intense competition for just one, maybe two, remaining spots. Based on spring observations, Jack Westover looks like he’s leading. But C.J. Dippre, his main competitor experience-wise, starts camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Franklin’s Game Is More Than Just Raw Numbers
So, who is Jeremiah Franklin? Don’t let his 3.29 Relative Athletic Score fool you. He’s not the biggest tight end, nor the flashiest athlete. But this guy makes up for raw numbers with a well-rounded skillset. He’s proven himself a reliable in-line blocker, huge for any pro offense. Plus, he was a consistent, reliable underneath receiver at Boston College, racking up 93 catches for 1,010 yards and six touchdowns in 44 games. Even better, his Boston College program runs an offense with similarities to the Patriots’ system. That experience definitely smooths out the transition from Chestnut Hill to Foxborough.
Thinning The Receiver Herd Early
While the tight end room gets packed, the wide receiver squad saw an early cut. The Patriots didn’t pick any wide receivers in this year’s draft, but they did sign four rookie free agents. Jimmy Kibble was one of those guys, but he’s also the first to be let go, barely making it to camp. Cutting him with an injury designation reduces New England’s receiver roster to eleven: A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, Jeremiah Webb, Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro, and Cameron Dorner. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are clearly projected as the top two. Kibble’s quick exit shows how cutthroat it is.
With Franklin now in the mix and Kibble already out the door, these Patriots roster moves absolutely set the stage for some serious battles in 2026 training camp. Who’s going to make the final cut from that stacked tight end room? And which of those remaining eleven receivers can actually stick around past preseason? We can’t wait to see how it all shakes out for the season ahead.
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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