The Patriots re-signed Hunter Henry this off-season to a three year deal worth up to $30 million dollars. The team also signed veteran tight ends Austin Hooper and Mitchell Wilcox to provide experience and depth. La’Michael Pettway also returns.

The Patriots also drafted Jaheim Bell in the seventh round of this year’s draft and signed Jacob Warren as an undrafted free agent to add depth to the position. 

Tight end will be an important part of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s offense. The Patriots will feature a lot of 12 and 13 personnel groupings in an effort to run the football and create match-ups in the passing game. 

The Cleveland Browns have featured the tight ends heavily in recent and expect the Patriots to do the same. 

Here is who is under contract and the positional breakdown. 

Under contract: Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Mitchell Wilcox, Jaheim Bell (R), La’Michael Pettway, Jacob Warren (R)

Positional Breakdown:

Hunter Henry, 6-5 249, Arkansas: Henry finished last season with 42 catches for 419 yards and 6 touchdown receptions. He came on down the stretch and ultimately made the Patriots decision to re-sign him this off-season easier. 

Henry is a true Y who can play in-line or be split out and play in the slot. He is a match up piece, especially in the red zone. 

Expect the Patriots to feature Henry early, especially in plus territory. He should exceed last season’s reception and yardage totals. 

Austin Hooper, 6-4 254, Stanford: Hooper is not the player he was five years ago but he knows the system from playing in Cleveland and he could be a good complement to Henry as an off ball tight end in 12 personnel. 

Hooper finished last season with 25 catches and 234 yards for the Las Vegas Raiders. He could give the Patriots at least that. Like Henry, he will also be more prominently featured in the offense early on.

Mitchell Wilcox, 6-3 250, South Florida: The former Cincinnati Bengals back up tight end will serve as the Patriots third tight end. He will have to beat out rookies Jaheim Bell, Jacob Warren and veteran LaMichael Pettway. Wilcox will have the edge in experience and like those guys, he can play special teams as well. 

Jaheim Bell, 6-2 240, Florida State: The rookie out of Florida State is your typical move tight end in today’s game. He can create match-up problems, especially in the red zone. Undersized at 6-2 240, Bell could end up fitting into Van Pelt’s scheme like David Njoku did. 

Jacob Warren, 6-6 251, Tennessee: Warren was productive at Tennessee and has intriguing size at 6-6 251. He can detach or play in-line. The Patriots will give Warren a long look at camp and he could be a sleeper to make the 53 man roster. Especially if he excels in the red zone and can carve a niche on special teams. 

LaMichael Pettway, 6-2 250,Iowa St: The veteran tight end got a taste of things at the end of last season but given the talent and competition, making the Patriots roster will be hard. New England is going to carry three tight ends so Pettway has a shot of making the team but it will be tough.