The New England Patriots would be wise to target tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hunter Henry and Julian Hill are... fine, but not enough to convince the organization to ignore the position during the draft for the fifth time in the last six seasons. CJ Dippre and Marshall Yang, the only other two options on the roster, aren't exactly long-term answers, so it's time to invest in the future and draft someone who could potentially fit that description.
I'd go as far as to say these are the five likeliest options:
Oscar Delp
School: Georgia
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 245 lbs
Hand: 9 1/2"
Arm: 31 5/8"
Scouting Combine: N/A
2025 Stats: 14 G, 20 REC, 261 REC YDS, 1 TD
Delp has routinely been tied to the organization, as there is a lot of interest on both sides, according to Tony Pauline, and will be a pre-draft visit, according to Arye Pulli. If those reports are any indication of how things could unfold during the draft, fans might want to start prepping jerseys.
Beck finds Delp for the third straight week and the Dawgs are on the board.
📺 ABC#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/w7dQ2sdj0C
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) November 30, 2024
Max Klare
School: Ohio State
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 246 lbs
Hand: 9 1/8"
Arm: 32 1/8"
Scouting Combine: N/A
2025 Stats: 14 G, 43 REC, 448 REC YDS, 2 TD
Klare was as steady as they come across stints with Purdue and Ohio State, getting better and better when there was more talent around him -- finishing with 116 receptions in 33 total games. Mike Vrabel would undoubtedly enjoy having another fellow Buckeye with him at One Patriot Place.
Eli Raridon
School: Notre Dame
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 245 lbs
Hand: 10 3/4"
Arm: 32 3/4"
Scouting Combine: 4.62 (40), 36" (Vertical), 10' 3" (Broad), 20 (Bench Press)
2025 Stats: 12 G, 32 REC, 482 REC YDS
Raridon has a rare combination of size, speed, and tenacity. If you're looking for someone who will give you an extremely high floor in the running game and potential to skyrocket in the passing game, this is the guy.
Eli getting up ⬆️
3️⃣6️⃣.0️⃣0️⃣”#GoIrish☘️ | @EliRaridon pic.twitter.com/IBUjXoRQBY
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) February 28, 2026
John Michael Gyllenborg
School: Wyoming
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 249 lbs
Hand: 10"
Arm: 31"
Scouting Combine: 4.6 (40), 35.5" (Vertical), 10' 8" (Broad), 4.22 (Short Shuttle)
2025 Stats: 9 G, 24 REC, 217 REC YDS, 1 TD
Gyllenborg showed some shocking athleticism during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, which put him squarely in the conversation to be taken by teams that can afford to develop someone behind a proven starter.
Michael Trigg
School: Baylor
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 240 lbs
Hand: 10 1/2"
Arm: 34 1/4"
Scouting Combine: N/A
2025 Stats: 11 G, 50 REC, 694 REC YDS, 6 TD
Trigg is as exciting a player as there is in this class, as his blend of size and athleticism give him perhaps the highest ceiling of anyone at the position -- including Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq and Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers. The Patriots have the right culture in place to take on someone who has proven to be talented, but took a long time to put it together and has questions about buy-in.
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More NFL: 2026 NFL Draft Preview: Profiling Most Interesting Players In Class