Training Camp Position Snapshot: Tight ends

Ahead of training camp, we’re taking a position-by-position look at the Patriots’ roster. Tight ends review today. Evan Lazar

locks: Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki

Bubble: Anthony Firkser, Scotty Washington, Johnny Lumpkin

In the mix: Matt Sokol

ANALYSIS

The Patriots’ new-look offense under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien will likely feature a heavy dose of two tight ends, reminiscent of what we saw during O’Brien’s first tenure with the team.

While injuries throughout the spring limited the opportunity for New England’s more experienced receivers, the Pats were already gearing up on offense to lean on the tight end duo of Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. Despite having Henry and former teammate Jonah Smith for the past two seasons, the Pats have surprisingly ranked 25th in 12-man tackles over that span, and early signs suggest that will change this season.

Throughout the spring, Gesicki’s natural pass-catching ability and alignment flexibility gave the Pats’ offense a clearer path to having both tight ends on the field together. Hesicki, an inside receiver who plays out of formation, has been influential in OTAs and minicamp sessions running the seam, stretching the field horizontally and showing decent separation speed.

Hesica’s overall smoothness in passing made for a better pairing than Smith’s unconventional skill set with Henry, offering two big targets between the numbers. Things could go back to three-receiver packages once the Patriots are fully healthy at wide receiver. However, the Patriots’ end use is expected to increase significantly.

Along with the potential upside of having two effective pass-catchers between the numbers, there are also formal advantages to running their 12-man base attack. The Pats can run in or out of this grouping based on defensive personnel. If the defense matches them with five defensive backs (nickel), one of those inside receivers shown above will get the linebacker in coverage. Assuming opposing defenses match them for dimes, the Pats can now line up and ram Stevenson down the throat of a lighter defense.

The Patriots’ new tight end duo is one of the team’s biggest “X” factors that could increase the offensive ceiling in the 2023 season.

With Gezick and Henry, the Patriots have decisions to make on the third tight end on the original 53-man roster and the stylistic direction they’d like to take with the TE3 spot.

Over the past two seasons with Henry and Smith, the Patriots have largely gone with just two tight ends on the active roster, preferring to keep depth options on the practice squad. That trend could continue as Gesicki and Henry are a high-paid duo that will dominate playing time.

However, the Patriots also have to consider that their retooled duo at the position has two tight ends who lean more toward receiving threats than pure run blockers. Also, Gesicki will likely register most of his snaps in the slot or wide, rather than as a hand in the dirt.

The Pats signed undrafted free agent rookie Johnny Lumpkin as a potential blocking specialist. Lumpkin is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds and filled out his practice jersey as a downsized offensive weapon. We’ll wait to evaluate Lumpkin as a blocker until back-to-back practices begin this summer, but the rookie could push for a roster spot as a traditional blocking tight end.

New England also signed free agent Anthony Firkser during the offseason as they look to move to a flexible tight end. Firkser has the body type and experience to play as a more versatile blocker in the H-Back mold, or perhaps expand his role to snap fullback.

And finally, from that perspective, another team that has hope is pass catcher Scotty Washington. Washington is similar to Gesicki in that he plays out of formation and has a huge catch radius. Washington occasionally grabs highlights, leaping over defenders to make contested catches downfield. According to teammates, Washington was a regular on the scout team last season.

The Patriots are turning to another tight end duo, and early returns show Gesicki and Henry are a good fit. Now the question is how they will make the active roster at the position behind their new pairing.