There is still plenty of work the New England Patriots must do before the 2026 offseason ends, but we must give the front office credit for the excellent job they've done in free agency. Adding wide receiver Romeo Doubs, offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, and safety Kevin Byard were terrific additions by New England, giving them a stronger chance to return to the Super Bowl.
Overall, the Patriots were successful in addressing some of their biggest needs. However, they’ve also made some questionable decisions, such as signing edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones over K’Lavon Chaisson and making Reggie Gilliam the highest-paid fullback in the NFL.
While these acquisitions were notable, they weren’t the worst additions. That award goes to tight end Julian Hill, who inked a three-year, $15 million contract.
Patriots Could’ve Done Better Than Julian Hill
Hill, 26, has spent his entire three-year career with the Miami Dolphins, serving primarily as the team’s backup tight end. Despite being part of former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniels’s pass-happy offense, Hill wasn’t much of a threat as a receiver, logging just 33 receptions for 288 receiving yards across 45 career games.
Instead, the former undrafted free agent has made his living as a blocker, with 66 percent of his career snaps coming in that role, according to Pro Football Focus. Adding a tight end who primarily serves as a blocker makes sense for New England, as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has always favored one–from Michael Hoomanawanui to Dwayne Allen.
However, committing $15 million to Hill, who hasn’t displayed any upside as a receiver, is hard to justify. Looking at other blocking tight ends, the decision becomes even more questionable. Other players in the mold of Hill, such as Brock Wright, Jeremy Ruckert, and Adam Trautman, are all on similar deals but offer more as pass catchers, particularly in the red zone. Meanwhile, Hill has yet to record a touchdown as an NFL player.
Compared to the Jones and Gilliam signings, Hill is undeniably the worst addition. While the Jones signing isn’t one I necessarily agree with, he provides similar production as Chaisson and is on a reasonable contract. Gilliam’s three-year, $10.8 million contract is a lot for a position that’s gradually being phased out of the league, but he’s the best at it, and McDaniels’ offense relies on a fullback.
These two will have prominent roles on next year’s team and will play an important part in the team’s success. Hill won’t have nearly as crucial a role as either Jones or Gilliam, though, and the Patriots could’ve made a better investment at the position.
With Hunter Henry turning 32 in December and New England not having another receiving threat at tight end, they could’ve redirected the money they used on Hill to signing David Njoku. Although Spotrac estimates his market value to be $10 million annually, Njoku remains a free agent, which likely lowers his price
The Patriots could’ve capitalized on this opportunity by signing him to an affordable, two-year, $15 million deal, while selecting a developmental tight end on Day 3 of the draft to compete with Jack Westover.
Despite Hill’s signing giving them much-needed depth, there were several better avenues the Patriots could’ve taken to address the position. Although this move was disappointing, given their impressive offseason, hopefully, Hill can prove us wrong and show growth as a receiving threat.