The New England Patriots have added another tight end to the mix, reportedly signing former Boston College standout Jeremiah Franklin after a workout on Thursday, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Franklin, a Chestnut Hill product, had already spent time around the Patriots this offseason. He attended the team’s local pro day and later showed up at Gillette Stadium for rookie minicamp as a tryout player. Now he’s back in Foxborough with a contract in hand as training camp approaches.
The move comes one day after New England worked out six free agents. The Patriots signed tight end Mitch Van Vooren and linebacker Riley Wilson from that group, while waiving fullback Brock Lampe.
A corresponding roster move will be needed to get Franklin onto the active roster, which is currently above the 91-man limit.
Franklin went unselected in the 2026 NFL draft after a productive college run at Boston College. He started all 12 games as a senior in the ACC and finished that season with 49 catches for 506 yards and two touchdowns. Over 44 games with the Eagles, including 30 starts, the 6-foot-3, 244-pound tight end totaled 93 receptions for 1,010 yards and six touchdowns.
His arrival gives New England another body at a position that has already taken hits this summer. Veteran addition Julian Hill landed on season-ending injured reserve in June, and rising sophomore C.J. Dippre was placed on physically unable to perform to open training camp.
The Patriots’ tight end group also includes captain Hunter Henry, rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin, along with 2025 starting fullback Jack Westover.
In Other News…
Robert Kraft Holds One Patriots Decision Players Desperately Want
The push for natural grass at Gillette Stadium has picked up real momentum, and Robert Kraft has already approved the Patriots making the switch from artificial turf. For a roster that has spent years hearing players around the league talk about the wear and tear of surface conditions, it is the kind of decision that lands well in the locker room and beyond it.
The case for grass has only grown louder after the recent World Cup matches at NFL stadiums, where natural surfaces drew fresh attention from players who believe they are easier on bodies over the long haul. The NFL Players Association has also entered the conversation, and Kraft now sits in position to be one of the first owners to turn that support into a formal change, which could make the Patriots an early example for the rest of the league. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A Harold Landry Problem As Camp Opens
Training camp in Foxborough is about to open, and the Patriots are already sorting through a few early roster health issues at a spot where they can least afford them. Harold Landry has been placed on the physically unable to perform list, while running back Terrell Jennings landed on the non-football injury list, a reminder that the first days of camp often start with more medical updates than football.
For New England, Landrys situation carries the most immediate weight because the edge group has been thin enough that every available body matters. The Patriots will have to monitor how quickly he can get back onto the field, and the calendar adds a layer of pressure if the status lingers deep into August. Jennings designation is part of the same early-camp picture, but Landrys absence is the one that could shape how the defense settles in once practice ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Make Another Camp Depth Chart Shakeup Ahead Of Training Camp
The Patriots continued to shuffle the bottom of the roster as training camp approached, adding tight end Mitch Van Vooren and linebacker Riley Wilson to the active roster. Both players earned the opportunity after taking part in a six-player tryout group, a reminder that New England is still combing through every available option as it sorts out camp depth.
To make room, the Patriots waived fullback Brock Lampe, whose camp path had already been interrupted by a season-ending leg injury. It leaves another open spot in a roster battle that is still very much in motion, with the team clearly willing to keep turning over the back end of the roster in search of the right fit