The New England Patriots’ depth chart at tight end will have less contributors once free agency begins.
Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and CJ Dippre were the Patriots’ tight ends in 2025. The Patriots’ tight end room accounted for 1,031 of New England’s 4,459 receiving yards. However, that collection of talent may not be returning to play at Foxborough next season.
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The NFL’s window for unrestricted free agents to begin signing contracts begins March 11. The Patriots have decisions to make at the position this offseason.
Who’s on the Patriots’ roster at TE?
Henry will return for his sixth season with the Patriots in 2026. He is under contract with the Patriots through 2027. The 31-year-old recorded 768 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns last year. Henry went for the second-most first downs among all Patriots pass-catchers with 42.
Dippre signed a two-year, $1.8 million deal with the Patriots in 2025. The 23-year-old played a total of 46 snaps last season, with 20 coming on offense in addition to 26 on special teams.
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Who’s slated for free agency?
Hooper signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in 2024. New England brought the 31-year-old back on another one-year deal worth $5 million in 2025 after he recorded 476 receiving yards the year before. Hooper went for 263 yards in 16 games played for the Patriots last season.
Who can the Patriots sign in free agency?
Njoku announced that he won’t be returning to the Cleveland Browns next season. The 29-year-old went for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
Ertz, 35, is nearing the end of his career. The Stanford product did go for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games played last season.
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Hill gives teams a pass-catching tight end that also specializes in situational snaps at quarterback, particularly on third downs. The 35-year-old is a do-it-all player who has gone for 187 or more receiving yards in two of the last three years.
Meanwhile, Pitts is coming off one of the best NFL seasons of his career with 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots 2026 offseason preview: Where does New England stand at TE?
