The New England Patriots seemingly had high hopes that free agent signing Julian Hill would be a major contributor for them in 2026, as he was the only veteran tight end the team brought in over the offseason.
However, this plan was ultimately derailed by recent news that Hill will miss the entire upcoming campaign after suffering an injury in practice.
With that loss in mind, New England should consider kicking the tires on former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly, a player with prior experience as a top-tier back-up at the position, but who is also still unsigned in June because he majorly fell out of favor with his previous squad in 2025.
Why Will Dissly may be worth a flier after Julian Hill heads to Patriots' injured reserve
Prior to last season, Dissly was a highly regarded second-string option, becoming one of the best blockers at his position and a serviceable receiver.
The Washington product had just recorded a 72.3 Pro Football Focus run blocking grade across his past two campaigns, the fourth-best mark among tight ends league-wide, and during 2024 put up career highs in both receptions (50) and receiving yards (481).
Ultimately, though, Dissly saw his usage rate plummet in 2025, playing a career-low 31% of the Chargers' offensive snaps in games he was active, down from 57% the year prior. He finished the season with just 11 catches for 97 yards, the former being the eight-year veteran’s fewest grabs since his rookie campaign and the latter being another career low.
That performance led Los Angeles to cut ties with Dissly at the beginning of March, releasing him with a year left on his three-year, $14 million contract. Though clearly no longer the productive situational player he once was, Dissly showed at times in 2025 that he remains a capable blocker, a skill that could be intriguing to New England.
Dissly potentially offers some value as a blocker amid Hill’s loss
Despite having a vastly reduced role last season, Dissly still managed to have a few outings in which he found success in clearing rushing lanes. He was the Chargers' rated run blocker by PFF with a 71.0 grade in his squad’s Week 14 overtime win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dissly‘s blocking skills also helped place him in PFF’s top five highest-rated Los Angeles offensive players during Week 1 and Week 6.
The Patriots decision to sign Hill was largely due to his reputation as a run blocker, but with his year now over before it even began, New England may be looking for some reinforcements in that department.
He is by no means a perfect option; however, choices at this point in the offseason are sparse, and he may be the best blocker on a limited market.
More talented veterans at the position might emerge later as other teams trim down their roster, and Dissly could end up being nothing more than a camp body.
Even if this ends up being the case, at worst, he’s a cheap gamble who brings some physicality to the Patriots' tight end group this preseason, potentially providing a positive example for rookie Eli Raridon, whose rapid development is now more important than ever.
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