As we near the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, the BSJ Positional Preview Series continues! While New England has plenty of needs to address in the upcoming draft, it's widely known that the organization would like to add another tight end to their roster. With a new signal-caller expected to be in the saddle, supplying their quarterback with weapons and depth at the position will be necessary to achieve great success. Be sure to bookmark the BSJ 2024 NFL Draft Headquarters and get caught up on all of our position primers below!
BSJ 2024 NFL Draft Positional Preview Series: Offensive Tackles | Guards | Centers | Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties
Patriots Projected Tight End Depth Chart
Hunter Henry / Austin Hooper / La’Michael Pettway
New England retained team captain Hunter Henry on a bargain-value, 3-year, $27M contract with incentives prior to the start of free agency. He provides a stable presence, along with nine-year veteran import Austin Hooper who is expected to handle the majority of inline duties. Converted wideout La'Michael Pettway is an unproven project, which leaves New England vulnerable when it comes to depth. Another option, preferably one who can contribute in the passing attack should look to be added at some point during the mid-to-late rounds of the draft.
Urgency Level: Help Wanted!
NFL Draft Positional Overview: Tight Ends
There were a remarkable nine tight ends chosen within the first 101 overall selections of the NFL Draft a year ago, a feat that the league hadn't seen achieved since 2006. Unfortunately, the 2023 NFL Draft seems to be an aberration, as we revert back to normalcy this year. There are expected to be no more than six tight ends selected on the first two days of the draft.
If there is a such thing as an injury bug, it seems to have bitten this 2024 NFL Draft tight end crop. Many of the top players are currently dealing with, or had a recent injury that has dampened their draft stock. After the consensus top player Brock Bowers of Georgia, it will largely depend upon need and scheme to determine how the tight end dominoes fall. It should help add to the intrigue and excitement of the draft weekend!
There are several northeast players of note worth monitoring during the undrafted free agent signing frenzy. They include do-it-all weapon Owen Glascoe of Long Island, David Martin-Robinson, a converted quarterback who also ran a highly successful wildcat option for Temple and steady Kevin Foelsch of New Haven. Let's have a look-see at this year's tight ends...
Note: HPFA = High Priority Free Agent | PFA = Priority Free Agent | FA = Free Agent | HPFA usually results in higher signing bonus, while FA types tend to be rookie camp / tryout types.
RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia, 6-3, 243, 4.48, Rd1: It has been fascinating to watch the market react to Bowers' left ankle injury this past season, which required tight-rope surgery and caused him to miss some late-season matchups. He elected to bypass any testing at the combine and did not work out at his personal pro day for NFL scouts due to a pulled hamstring, which has created whispers that Bowers could fall come draft night but make no mistake about it, this is a top-five cornerstone talent. Bowers, who accumulated 2,500+ receiving yards and 31 touchdowns for his career, hopes to make a similar type of impact such as his boyhood NFL idol.
“I grew up watching Gronk (Rob Gronklowski). I loved watching Gronk," Bowers said of the future Hall of Fame inductee. "He’s kind of like a huge role model for me looking at him growing up. And watching Kittle and Kelce.”
2. Ben Sinnott, Kansas St., 6-4, 250, 4.68, Rd2: Possibly the only tight end who has checked off all the boxes along the draft process, Sinnott possesses the makeup of a three-down starter. Hailing from a P5 program, he boasts great production (1,123 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns the past two years), prototype size, was above average in all his testing and had a great Senior Bowl week, where he had a formal meeting with the Patriots. There are few holes in his overall game, making him one of the safer selections in this year's draft.
"I have the capabilities to fit into any scheme, any offense and being able to play so many different positions, and the way K-State used me and trusted me with those responsibilities, it says a lot about the kind of player I am and the kind of football IQ that I bring. It only helps me. There aren't a lot of guys in this draft class and I don't think there are any that truly have the versatility that I have when it comes to being flexed out as the No.1 receiver or kicking a defensive end out on power. I don't think anyone brings that kind of versatility."
3. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas, 6-4, 245, 4.69, Rd2: The consensus No.2-rated tight end for most of the past year, Sanders' status became somewhat shaky after a questionable 4.69 forty-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he also held a formal meeting with the Patriots. The Longhorns' offense catered to his skill set, often exploiting mismatches in the slot and it resulted in 99 catches, for 1,295, receiving yards, along with seven touchdowns over the past two seasons. An incredible athlete who starred at defensive end coming out of high school, Sanders wasn't exactly sure what his role would be when he first arrived to Austin. Now, his draft stock remains in a state of flux.
"Honestly, I always feel like I've been a better offensive player than as defensive player. I was just an athlete in high school who rushed the passer," Sanders said of his defensive prowess. "All I did was just bull rush people, or just spin-move-off people. I think just the understanding of how defensive ends play helped me become a better tight end for sure."
4. Jared Wiley, TCU, 6-6, 249, 4.62, Rd2: An exotic blend of size, athleticism and run-after-the-catch ability, Wiley was a breakout player this past year, racking up 47 receptions for 520 receiving yards and eight touchdowns -- more than his previous four seasons at TCU and Texas combined. With great length, plus room to grow, Wiley owns a massive catch radius, top-notch athleticism and is a stout blocker. The former high school quarterback has been praised for his leadership role and has gotten the attention of New England brass, as he was in Foxborough for a pre-draft 30-visit. Somewhat of a one-year wonder, don't be surprised to see Wiley ascend up to become the second tight end off the board.
"I am not a situational type player who needs to come in only on running plays. I feel I can be on the field for every down," Wiley said at the Senior Bowl. "I can be assigned blocking or catching a pass and fill in both of those areas. You have to be a complete tight end and never expect to be off the field."
5. Cade Stover, Ohio State, 6-4, 247, 4.65, Rd3: There's a lot to like about Stover, who grew up making hay on his father's farm and brings a defensive mentality to the position, converting from defensive end two seasons ago. He has since shown to be an effective in-line blocker, in addition to being a capable receiver, collecting 77 catches, for 982 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during that span. Known to be a passionate player, Stover seems to have excelled at every step of the way. He was the state of Ohio’s Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year in high school, in addition to breaking the all-time scoring record in basketball. He's primed to have a long career.
"I feel like I'm a very capable blocker. Very willing blocker," Stover recently told CBS. "I really feel like I can be a three-down tight end, where you don't want to take him off the field. Whether it's a special team, whether it's first, second, third down, I feel like I'm capable to do it all."
6. Theo Johnson, Penn State, 6-6, 259, 4.57, Rd4: If you were to sculpt the ideal tight end, it would look something similar to Johnson, who possesses all the traits necessary to succeed at he next level. Johnson made the most of his opportunities playing in a conservative Nittany Lions offense, snagging 34 balls, for 341 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his final season. He'll need to polish up some of his route running technique and sharpen his blocking, so it may take a year or two, to bear the fruit of his labor. No one is going to question Johnson's toughness, or ability to overcome adversity. He hails from a well-documented rough childhood, where he was abused as a child.
"Getting yelled at by the coach? Coach can’t beat you with a hockey stick," Johnson told the York Daily Record in November. "It’s still not as bad as what you've already lived through."
7. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona, 6-5, 244, 4.61, Rd5: Growing up in Alberta, Canada, McLachlan was a wiry 190-pound basketball player. He was pretty much cooked in the squat at Southern Utah before exploding onto the scene for Arizona in 2022. In two seasons at Tucson, he hauled in 79 passes, for 984 receiving yards and six touchdowns. However, McLachlan is viewed as a developmental prospect, as there are still strides to be made in his pass-blocking ability, something he was well aware of when he took the podium at Indy.
“If you turn on the film, a lot of people would say the same thing — and that’s the feedback I’ve been getting,” McLachlan said. “Converting from wide receiver to tight end, it is what it is and I think I’m relatively new to the position but on the same token, it shows I have a lot of growth still to be made. I’m an older guy in this draft class but my ceiling is very high and I have a lot of football left in me.”
8. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota, 6-5, 260, 4.77, Rd5: It's all about the upside with Spann-Ford, who possesses great length and a vertical game, which makes him one of the top players in the entire draft when it comes to competing for contested catches. He utilized his size advantage on several occasions at the Senior Bowl, where he also had a formal meeting with the Patriots. In six seasons with the Gophers, Spann-Ford compiled 95 receptions, 1,061 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He lives, eats and breathes football, according to coaches and is a self-made man as one of the premier blocking prospects in the draft at tight end.
“I was a high school wide receiver, so when I first got into school, it was kind of a whirlwind for me," he explained. "[I Had] to learn all the blocking techniques but I had great guys around me. [The] Buccaneers’ Ko Kieft, he was one of the guys who’s making his way in the NFL right now. He was a senior leader for me.”
9. Erick All, Iowa, 6-4, 252, 4.73, Rd6: Had it not been for two major season-ending knee injuries in each of the past two years, All would be ranked as a top 100 overall prospect. The Michigan transfer was leading the Hawkeyes in receiving this past season with 21 catches for 299 yards before suffering a torn ACL. All is one of the better combo tight ends in the draft, in terms of pass-catching and blocking. However, medical is one of the most import aspects of the evaluation, which could make him a worthy low-risk / high-reward roll of the dice on Day 3. All provided a medical update on his knee at the combine.
“Everything has been going great. I feel fine,” All said. “Anything that you can think of that I could do on my knee right now, I can do and I feel great, just ready to be back out there. It’s been two years. Two long years and I’m ready to just get out there and play some football.”
10. Jaheim Bell, Florida State, 6-2, 241, 4.61, Rd6: A tremendous college player, Bell is a jackknife without a true position. During his career at South Carolina and Florida State, he lined up at tight end, h-back, fullback, running back, slot/wideout. In 43 career games, Bell finished with 1,563 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. In the right scheme, Bell could be a dynamic offensive weapon in the mold of Trey Burton.
BEST OF THE REST
Tip Reiman, Illinois, 6-5, 271, 4.64, Rd6: There are few athletic specimens who can move like Reiman at his size. His lateral quickness and blocking prowess is like having a sixth offensive lineman on the field. The former walk-on-turned team captain had a riveting combine performance, registering a 33.5" vertical jump, along with 28 bench press reps of 225 pounds. Reiman finished with career highs across the board in '23 with 19 catches, for 203 receiving yards and three touchdowns. A people-mover who could possibly eat his way to offensive tackle, Reiman discussed his physical transformation from high school to college during the combine, as he morphed into a 270-pound wrecking ball.
"Four games into my senior season, I switched to tight end. I was a running back my whole life, junior year I switched to defensive end because I kind of hit a growth spurt and then I switched to tight end my senior year."
Devin Culp, Washington, 6-3, 231, 4.47, Rd7
AJ Barner, Michigan, 6-6, 251, 4.86, Rd7
Dallin Holker, Colorado State, 6-3, 241, 4.78, Rd7
Owen Glascoe, LIU, 6-3, 244, 4.63, HPFA
Brenden Bates, Kentucky, 6-4, 246, 4.68, HPFA
McCallan Castles, Tennessee, 6-4, 244, 4.68, HPFA
Jack Westover, Washington, 6-3, 243, 4.78, HPFA
David Martin-Robinnson, Temple, 6-4, 247, 4.75, HPFA
Austin Stogner, Oklahoma, 6-6, 254, 4.86, HPFA
Neal Johnson, Louisiana, 6-4, 245, 4.77, HPFA
Trey Knox, South Carolina, 6-3, 234, 4.91, PFA
Trent Pennix, North Carolina State, 6-1, 234, 4.60, PFA
Jacob Warren, Tennessee, 6-6, 251, 4.94, PFA
Isaac Rex, BYU, 6-5, 247, 4.98, PFA
Roje Stona, Arkansas, 6-6, 263, 4.76, PFA
Jaylan Franklin, Michigan State, 6-3, 232, 4.69, PFA
Kevin Foelsch, New Haven, 6-3, 247, 4.67, PFA
Alec Holler, UCF, 6-3, 242, 4.78, PFA
Patrick McSweeney, Citadel, 6-4, 241, 4.84, PFA
Joey Gatewood, Louisville, 6-4, 241, 4.79, PFA
Dylan Leonard, Georgia Tech, 6-5, 242, 4.77, PFA
Leak Bryant, LIU, 6-5, 246, 5.00, FA
Zach Heins, South Dakota State, 6-6, 259, 5.02, FA
Lincoln Sefcik, South Alabama, 6-2, 238, 4.71, FA
Mason Fairchild, Kansas, 6-4, 249, 4.91, FA
Mason Pline, Furman, 6-6, 254, 4.91, FA
Steele Roring, Pittsburg State, 6-4, 256, 5.11, FA
Messiah Swinson, Arizona State, 6-7, 259, 4.87, FA
Alex Larson, Saint Johns, 6-6, 238, 5.10, FA
Blake Gobel, Eastern Washington, 6-6, 254, 5.07, FA
Jordan Goco, Austin Peay, 6-5, 245, 4.86, FA
Cam Grandy, Illinois State, 6-5, 253, 4.90, FA
Josiah Johnson, Oklahoma State, 6-5, 243, 5.01, FA
Jacob Logan, SE Louisiana, 6-3, 244, 4.82, FA
PATRIOTS SLEEPER CANDIDATE
AJ Barner, Michigan, 6-6, 251, 4.86, Rd7: Considered to be one of the better blocking tight ends in this year's draft class, Barner possesses prototypical size but is somewhat limited in the passing attack. An overachiever who started for two seasons at Indiana before finishing his career with the champion Wolverines, he did receive an invite to the combine but his forty-time was below average. Barner could compete for a spot on the bottom of the roster.
"I feel like that’s just something where Michigan asked me to block and I went in and did the best I could and did a really good job. Also, when I was at Indiana, there were questions about, could this kid block? Whatever I’m asked to do, I’m going to do a really good job at it and I think when given the opportunity, I’m going to make plays in the passing game. It’s one of those things where I was asked to catch the ball too but I was asked to block too and I did my best at it.
UDFA CANDIDATE
Neal Johnson, Louisiana, 6-4, 245, 4.77, PFA: One of the players New England targeted at the combine, Johnson had a formal visit with the team. The former high school quarterback made great strides, improving in each of his five seasons for the Ragin' Cajuns, totaling 101 receptions, for 1,196 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. There is big potential in his pass-catching ability, while his blocking has room for improvement. Johnson would be viewed as a practice squad project.
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