The New England Patriots have an interesting tight end room. Back in May, it appeared that the team had a clear plan for the position: Hunter Henry as the surefire starter, Julian Hill offering blocking in a secondary role, and rookie Eli Raridon as a developmental backup. A knee injury to Hill, however, threw that plan to the winds.
Hill's injury, described as "devastating" by head coach Mike Vrabel, landed him on season-ending injured reserve, opening a roster spot for another player. UDFA Tanner Arkin took advantage and made the team over the likes of C.J. Dippre and Jack Westover, but he didn't look especially comfortable in the role.
The team claimed Eagles tight end Cameron Latu off waivers, but the 2023 third-round draft pick out of Alabama hasn't yet recorded his first NFL catch. His special teams play is solid, however, and he blocked a punt last season.
While Henry is a bona fide starter, the rest of the position is a crapshoot. The three options behind Henry don't have catches in the NFL, meaning that despite having four players on the roster, there's instability at the position.
That could be great news for a recent Patriots practice squad addition.
Shane Zylstra could benefit from the Patriots' uncertainty at tight end
The Patriots were able to retain many of their own players following initial roster cuts, but their practice squad also features several new faces, including Shane Zylstra.
The 29-year-old tight end entered the league in 2021 as a UDFA from Minnesota State, spending that preseason with the Vikings before being picked up by the Lions. He made 18 catches for 136 yards and four touchdowns during that time. The Bills signed him this offseason, but he was unable to make their squad.
Despite playing as a wide receiver in college, he's added more than 30 pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame to make the move to tight end. That position change has helped him stay in the league for more than half a decade, and it could help him see the field this season in New England.
Across the last two seasons, Zylstra's offensive involvement has mostly been limited to blocking and special teams. He managed all four of his career touchdowns in 2022. Over his 19 games over the last two seasons, he's totaled 293 special teams snaps, an average of 15.4 per game.
If Raridon is unable to fit the No. 2 tight end role early on, the team could look for a more established blocking option than Latu or Arkin. Should Zylstra be called upon, there's a strong chance he could stick on the roster, especially considering his overlap with assistant coach Terrell Williams in Detroit.
The Patriots may not need a tight end on paper, but their current depth is more quantity than quality. Should Zylstra string together a few strong weeks, don't be surprised if the team opts for him over Latu or Arkin as a key blocking option later in the season.
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