The New England Patriots finished the regular season with a 14-3 record, and after two playoff victories, are back in the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos this Sunday.
One of the biggest reasons for this is the elevation of Drake Maye, who, in just his second season, put up MVP-caliber numbers. If it weren’t for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Maye’s 4,844 all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns would be the runaway favorite to win MVP honors.
One of Maye’s most reliable targets in the passing game has been tight end Hunter Henry. In his second season catching passes from Maye, he set a career high in receiving yards with 768 and found the end zone seven times.
The 2026 season is the final year of Henry’s three-year, $27 million extension. Even though the nine-year veteran remains highly productive, New England should be looking for his replacement this offseason. In addition to Henry, backup tight end Austin Hooper, who is completing his 10th season, is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.
Pats Should Put All-Out Blitz on Kyle Pitts If Available This Offseason
One free agent who would benefit from a change of scenery is Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. A first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Pitts showed superstar potential as a rookie, hauling in 68 catches for 1,026 yards and a score. However, over the next three seasons, he failed to replicate the same level of production.
If Atlanta chooses not to use the franchise tag on Pitts, and the Falcons are unable to work out a long-term deal, New England should do everything in its power to cut to the front of the negotiating line.
Pitts enjoyed a career resurgence in 2025, setting new career highs in catches (88), targets (118), and touchdowns (5). Even though Pitts has been in the NFL for five seasons, he won’t turn 26 years old until October, leaving plenty of room for further growth. This shows that even though his career hasn’t gone according to plan so far, he can still build off last season and turn his career around. Pitts needs a pass-heavy offense that will give him consistent opportunities to produce.
Enter the Patriots and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, whose offense ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game (262.3). Adding a weapon like Pitts could put an already dangerous New England offense over the top. The former Florida product stands at 6’6”, 250 pounds, and moves like a wide receiver, and could be the ultimate Swiss Army Knife for Drake Maye as he continues his ascent in year 3.
For Patriots fans, the idea of adding a dynamic athlete like Pitts to an offense that ranked second in scoring should be music to their ears. For opposing defensive coordinators, a Pitts move to Foxborough would bring a new set of problems, and give another reason to lose sleep for a Patriots offense that is just getting started.