It didn't come as a surprise when the Patriots made numerous changes to a team that went 4-13 in 2024. The offense was stagnant and uninspiring, the defense struggled to pressure opposing QBs, and the 2024 rookie class was largely disappointing.
Both coordinators and head coach Jerod Mayo were replaced, and the team saw former OC Josh McDaniels return to his old post with the Patriots.
Despite the disappointing offense the Patriots produced, the tight end room was solid. Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper both produced, and they will both be on the roster in 2025. Jaheim Bell operated as the TE3 and fullback, recording just two catches for 20 yards, 19 of which came in the final game with Joe Milton under center.
Plenty of competition was added to the tight end room this offseason
TE3 isn't a huge role, but it's a good start for a solid blocker and fundamental piece to continue developing. The team now rosters UDFAs C.J. Dippre and Gee Scott of Alabama and Ohio State, respectively, 2024 UDFA Jack Westover, and the aforementioned Bell as candidates for the role.
There is one more candidate who is not listed as a tight end that could bump one of them off the roster, however, as suggested by Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire. McElroy names Brock Lampe, a UDFA fullback from Northern Illinois, as his TE3 in his most recent roster projection, beating out Bell and other successful collegiate players.
Lampe isn't a traditional tight end. The NIU product recorded just 18 catches during his collegiate career for 216 yards and took 20 carries, despite lining up as an in-line tight end the majority of the time. In the NFL, he's a bona fide fullback, and his measurables reflect that too: he stands six-foot-one and 249 pounds.
Josh McDaniels has proven to love a fullback in his offense
While Lampe's contribution may not come in large portions as a runner or receiver, his position gives him huge upside to make the team. The team does not roster another fullback by trade. Bell's experience as an H-back is limited.
With McDaniels as the OC once again, the offense appears poised to utilize the position effectively. The Patriots utilized James Develin heavily under Josh McDaniels, and later Jakob Johnson, courtesy of the International Pathway Program. Johnson later followed McDaniels to Las Vegas when he became their head coach.
Not only does McDaniels roster fullbacks, but he also uses them. Johnson played 300+ offensive snaps in each season from 2020-2022. Should Lampe build on his 2024 season, the Patriots will have little reason not to use him: PFF graded him out to have an 85.6 overall grade this past season, and an 84.5 run blocking grade. He was penalized once.
A fullback improves the run game, too
There's no doubt that other factors, aside from the Patriots moving on from the fullback position, have contributed to their disappointing rushing offense, but the change hasn't helped. After ranking 3rd and 8th in rush yards per game in 2020 and 2021, the Patriots decided it was best to move on from the fullback as a position.
The following seasons? 24th, 25th, 14th. Since ridding of the position, they haven't cracked the top ten again.
As previously stated, other factors affect this, but the absence of the fullback didn't help matters. Allowing McDaniels the opportunity to use the fullback again in a backfield that reunites him with Rhamondre Stevenson and now features TreVeyon Henderson could very well push the Patriots back into the top ten backfields in football.