3 recently added Patriots who are already cut candidates

TE Mitchell Wilcox

The Patriots tight end roster is a bit unexciting entering this season, with Hunter Henry as the clear TE1 for the foreseeable future. Eliot Wolf's re-signing was good; without Henry, there was an empty tight end room.

That's why signing guys like Austin Hooper and Mitchell Wilcox in free agency made sense. They were welcomed additions in the hopes that at least one would become Henry's number two. Bill Belichick tried that with Mike Gesicki during the 2023 season, but much like the Jonnu Smith experiment, it didn't work out as hoped.

Given Hooper's connection to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and his lengthier experience in the NFL, it seems unlikely he will be a cut candidate unless he stinks it up on the field, which leaves a lot of focus on Wilcox.

The tight end went undrafted in 2020 but was signed to the Bengals practice squad not long after. He then played nearly every game over the next three seasons in Cincinnati and signed with the Patriots earlier this year. He is yet to make much of an impression at practice since his arrival, other than getting Patriots fans in their feelings over the jersey number he was assigned.

Like Osborn, Wilcox will need to have a fantastic summer to secure a spot on the 2024 roster. It's another somewhat open position outside of Henry, and he could lock up his place if he outshines his teammates.

The most significant seems to be Hooper, but there's also an early impressive rookie he will need to keep up with, Jaheim Bell, which might not be so easy. However, given the questionable state of the offensive line and only one tight end being a lock, Wilcox will have plenty of opportunity to show what he's capable of and prove he should make the team this fall.