The New England Patriots went about to rebuild their offense in 2025, but one position group largely stayed the same compared to the previous season. Tight end saw only marginal change during an offseason full of it — outside of coaching, of course — with the top two options both returning and relatively minor turnover behind them.
Moving on to 2026, however, there is no telling where the group is headed. While all but one of the team’s nominal tight ends are under contract, the outlook is still murky
both in the short and the long term.
Patriots tight end depth chart
Hunter Henry: Voted a team captain, Henry had one of the best seasons of his career and was a critical part of the Patriots’ offense. The clear-cut No. 1 tight end, he appeared in all 21 games and finished first among New England’s skill position players with a 78.6% playing time share. In addition, he was on the receiving end of 69 total passes for 880 yards and eight touchdowns. While he wasn’t at his best in the playoffs — similar to fellow veteran Stefon Diggs — he was one of the team’s most reliable contributors overall in 2025. | Signed (2027 UFA) | $11.75M cap hit
Austin Hooper: The Robin to Hunter Henry’s Batman, Hooper re-signed with the Patriots in the offseason and provided a veteran presence as a second tight end focused primarily on blocking. He also made the occasional play as a receiving option and finished with 24 combined catches for 287 yards and a couple of touchdowns in his 20 games. While not a volume target, he was reasonably efficient and registered the highest success rate (69.7%) and second-highest yards per catch (12.0) of his career. | UFA
C.J. Dippre: Joining the Patriots as an undrafted free agent, Dippre started his rookie campaign on the Patriots’ practice squad. He eventually was signed to the active roster to prevent other teams from poaching him, but eventually played only 20 offensive snaps and 26 on special teams over two in-game appearances. Dippre was a healthy scratch for eight games, including all four playoff contests. | Signed (2027 ERFA) | $1.01MM cap hit
Marshall Lang: A rookie free agent, Lang alternated between the two Super Bowl teams. He started out with the Seahawks, then joined the Patriots practice squad, then returned to Seattle’s practice squad before finishing the year on New England’s. Along the way, he played zero snaps. | Signed (2026 ERFA) | $885k cap hit
In theory, exclusive rights free agent Jack Westover also could be considered an option at tight end after only making the move to fullback out of necessity last offseason. With Brock Lampe potentially able to fill that role in 2026, there is a chance Westover begins focusing more on his original position again if it helps his chances of securing a roster spot.
Patriots offseason preview
With no player signed beyond 2026 and the young talent on the roster best described as “developmental,” the Patriots are entering a pivotal year when it comes to their tight end group. Anything between a complete tear-down — including parting ways with Hunter Henry considering the favorable structure of his contract — and running back the same personnel could be in the cards.
Realistically, the answer will lie somewhere in between. Despite his relatively inconsequential playoff performance, Henry still looks like a relatively safe bet to return to the Patriots in 2026: he was good in the regular season and provides value as a team leader and mentor for potential incoming tight ends and the two youngster currently under contract as well. For now, after all, both C.J. Dippre and Marshall Lang are in position to be back with the team this year.
The biggest questions are therefore, 1.) What will happen with unrestricted free agent Austin Hooper?; and 2.) How will the team try to upgrade the overall position for both 2026 and beyond?
Both of those questions are somewhat intertwined. The team could decide to play Hooper’s trip to the open market slowly and simultaneously try to find other plays to help replace him — whether they be big names like Kyle Pitts or Isaiah Likely or, more likely, second-tier options such as Chigoziem Okonkwo or Cade Otton.
Additionally, the Patriots taking to the draft to build a some long-term vision at the position also is very much in play from the early rounds on. They simply need more youth and developmental upside at the position.
New England may have a good starting point with Henry still a solid player, but his age and pending free agency in 2027 makes tight end a clear need for the team.
