Patriots Sign TE Mitch Van Vooren and LB Riley Wilson; Release FB Brock Lampe

In the highly competitive world of the National Football League (NFL), maintaining a dynamic and deeply talented roster is a year-round job for team executives. Roster moves at the bottom of the depth chart often receive less mainstream media coverage than high-profile trades or first-round draft picks, yet these incremental changes are crucial for building specialized depth and finding hidden gems. In a recent official announcement from FOXBOROUGH, Mass., the New England Patriots revealed their latest tactical adjustments, confirming the signing of first-year tight end Mitch Van Vooren and rookie free agent linebacker Riley Wilson. To create space on the roster for these new additions, the team simultaneously announced the release of second-year fullback Brock Lampe.

These transactions reflect the Patriots’ continuous strategy of evaluating young talent, looking for versatility, and optimizing their roster ahead of upcoming team activities and competitive evaluation periods.

The addition of tight end Mitch Van Vooren brings a compelling blend of size and unorthodox athletic pedigree to the Patriots’ offensive unit. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 255 pounds, Van Vooren possesses the prototypical frame that modern NFL coaching staffs covet for the tight end position—large enough to act as an effective blocker on the line of scrimmage, yet long enough to serve as a formidable target in the passing game.

At 25 years old, Van Vooren’s path to the NFL has been a journey of resilience across multiple organizations. He initially entered the league as a rookie free agent with the Seattle Seahawks on June 4, 2025, out of St. Norbert College. His time in Seattle was short-lived, as he was released on June 13. He later found a temporary home with the Cleveland Browns, signing on August 4, 2025, before being waived later that month on August 24.

What makes Van Vooren particularly intriguing is his exceptional athletic baseline. He actually began his collegiate journey not on the football gridiron, but as a track and field athlete at Marquette University, where he displayed elite speed and coordination by setting the school record in the grueling 400-meter hurdles. Transitioning to football at St. Norbert, he maximized his physical gifts, earning first-team All-NACC honors during his final season by racking up 33 receptions for 510 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Patriots’ offensive staff likely views him as a high-upside developmental project whose elite track background could translate into unique mismatches against linebackers and safeties.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots have injected productivity and collegiate experience into their linebacking corps by signing rookie free agent Riley Wilson. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound linebacker is a well-traveled athlete who has proven his ability to adapt and perform across various defensive schemes and levels of college football competition.

Wilson, 24, played in a total of 52 collegiate games, accumulating an impressive stat line of 193 total tackles, 16 sacks, and 2 interceptions. His college journey began at the University of Hawaii (2021–2022), followed by a highly productive two-year stint at the University of Montana (2023–2024), before he finally transferred to the University of Arizona for his ultimate season in 2025. Facing top-tier Big 12 competition with Arizona last year, Wilson appeared in 11 games, registering 51 total tackles and 3 sacks.

Wilson’s ability to consistently generate pressure from the second level—as evidenced by his 16 career collegiate sacks—makes him a valuable asset for a New England defense that historically values intelligent, disciplined linebackers who can both stop the run and impact the quarterback on situational blitzes.

To facilitate these two incoming transactions, the Patriots had to make a tough roster decision, resulting in the release of 23-year-old fullback Brock Lampe. The 6-foot-1, 249-pound player originally entered the New England organization as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Northern Illinois University.

Unfortunately for Lampe, his professional career in Foxborough was severely derailed by injuries before it could ever truly gain momentum. He spent the entirety of the previous NFL season on the team’s injured reserve list, preventing him from showcasing his talents in live-game situations. With the fullback position becoming increasingly specialized and rare in modern NFL offenses, the Patriots ultimately decided to pivot their resources toward greater positional flexibility at tight end and linebacker.

The signing of Mitch Van Vooren and Riley Wilson emphasizes the reality that an NFL roster is a living, breathing entity. By bringing in a hyper-athletic, former track-star tight end and a highly productive, versatile linebacker, the New England Patriots are continuing to throw darts at high-potential prospects. As the team moves forward into their next phase of preparation, both Van Vooren and Wilson will have a golden opportunity to compete, prove their worth on special teams, and fight for a permanent spot on the final 53-man roster.