The tight end position should be a strength for the Patriots in 2025. Both Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper return after a productive 2024 season. The Patriots also Jaheim Bell and a slew of young tight ends in Jack Westover and rookies C.J Dippre and Gee Scott.
Hunter Henry 6-5 249 Arkansas: Henry is entering his fifth season with the Patriots and is one of the team’s top offensive leaders. While his production is not elite, he is consistently productive and an important target for Drake Maye in the passing game. Henry finished last season with 66 catches for 674 yards and 2 touchdowns. He will need to be more productive in terms of his scoring but there is no doubt that Henry could help the passing game from the 20 to the 20. With Josh McDaniels now running the Patriots offense, the tight ends will be featured more and Henry could have a big season statistically.
Austin Hooper 6-4 254 Stanford: Hooper proved to be a pretty good pick up by Eliot Wolf last off-season. The veteran tight end caught 45 passes for 476 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was a reliable target for Patriots quarterbacks in the red zone and he could prove to be that once again this season. He is familiar with McDaniels and the offense so the transition should be easy. The Patriots will deploy a lot of 12 personnel formations so Hooper will once again be a big part of the offense.
Jaheim Bell 6-2 241 Florida State: Bell has played sparingly and it has been mostly as the third tight end. He will need a strong camp to hold off Alabama UDFA C.J Dippre for the job. Bell has special teams value but one of the things working against him is his size. He’s a move third tight end. Mike Vrabel and McDaniels prefer a little more size at the position. Nonetheless, Bell is talented and still has a strong chance of making the team.
CJ Dippre 6-5 256 Alabama: Dippre not getting drafted was a surprise but the Patriots pounced on him once undrafted free agency opened and signed him. He fits exactly what they look for in a third tight end. He is a blocker first who can get on defenders, stick and sustain. Dippre can be a factor in the passing game as well, especially in the red zone. He caught 3 touchdown passes at Maryland in 2022. Dippre could develop into a second tight end and play more snaps. It is how the Patriots view him long term.
Gee Scott Jr. 6-3 240 Ohio State: Scott was a reliable target for Will Howard last year at Ohio State. He made several big catches, especially on third down. Scott is a move U tight end who can be moved around in formations and create match-ups. He will have to have an exceptional camp to win a job but he is a player to watch in camp as a player who could “pop”
Jack Westover 6-2 245 Washington: Westover is a versatile player who could play the T as a third tight end or line up in the backfield and used as a lead blocker. He can also play on all the special teams. Westover played in three games with the Seahawks last season.