Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 24, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have nine draft picks, starting at No. 4 overall. As for their other picks, the Patriots are expected to address offensive tackle and wide receiver, though they could pad their depth at virtually any position.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at tight end:
Tyler Warren, Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6-6, 256
Projected round: First
Scouting report: One of the more versatile prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, Warren was used as a receiver, ball-carrier and passer in 2024 at Penn State.
Warren had one of the best college seasons by a tight end in college football history, catching 104 passes for 1,233 yards with eight touchdowns while rushing 26 times for 218 yards with four touchdowns and completing 3-of-6 passes for 35 yards with a touchdown last year.
Taking Warren No. 4 overall is probably too rich, but he could become an option in a trade-down situation. There’s strong appeal to adding a versatile player like Warren, given his diverse skillset.
Colston Loveland, Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6-6, 248
Projected round: First
Scouting report: Loveland isn’t as versatile and wasn’t as productive as Warren, but he’s also two years younger and had much earlier production during his college career than his Big 10 counterpart.
Loveland was Michigan’s top receiver in their 2023 National Championship Game win over Washington. He missed time in 2024 but still caught 56 passes for 582 yards with five touchdowns despite inconsistent quarterback play. He’s in somewhat of a no-man’s land to be a potential Patriots pick unless they trade back up into the first round. Loveland split his time between the slot and inline during his time at Michigan but could bulk up to become a more impactful blocker.
Mason Taylor, LSU
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 246
Projected round: First/second
Scouting report: Compared to Patriots tight end Hunter Henry in Dane Brugler’s draft guide for The Athletic, Taylor is the son of former Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor and nephew of ex-Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, both Pro Football Hall of Famers.
Taylor won’t be 21 years old until after the draft, and he was an immediate starter as a true freshman in the SEC. Durable with good speed (4.68-second 40-yard dash), Taylor can also contribute in the run game as a blocker.
Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 254
Projected round: Second
Scouting report: Arroyo is one of the more athletic tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he also has the size to compete as a blocker inline.
He had just 11 catches in his first three college seasons but broke out in 2024 with 35 receptions for 590 yards with seven touchdowns. Arroyo dropped just one pass in college. He was a captain during the 2024 season.
Harold Fannin, Bowling Green
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 241
Projected round: Third
Scouting report: Undersized without outstanding physical traits, Fannin actually outproduced Warren during the 2024 college season with 117 receptions for 1,555 yards with 10 touchdowns as a consensus All-American.
Fannin won’t turn 21 until July and will be best suited playing out of the slot or out wide. He’s not the most traditional tight end, but his receiving skills are not up for debate.
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 247
Projected round: Third
Scouting report: Ferguson tested well during the pre-draft process with a 4.63-second 40-yard dash – fastest among top tight ends in the class.
Showed a nice combination of speed at power at Oregon and has the ability to play inline or in the slot. Ferguson caught 43 passes for 591 yards with three touchdowns in 2024 as a senior.
Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 241
Projected round: Fourth/fifth
Scouting report: The son of former Dolphins standout Oronde Gadsden, the Syracuse product is a bigger pass-catcher but still maintains quality athleticism with a 4.65-second 40-yard dash.
Gadsden sported two 900-yard seasons at Syracuse in 2022 and 2024 after converting from wide receiver, his father’s position. Gadsden was adept at making contested catches and receptions downfield. He doesn’t have the desired size of an NFL tight end, but could continue to add bulk.
CJ Dippre, Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 256
Projected round: Fifth/sixth
Scouting report: Dippre transferred from Maryland to Alabama after his sophomore season. He has a strong combination of size and speed (4.69-second 40-yard dash), but that didn’t translate into a ton of college production.
Dippre caught 65 passes for 782 yards with three touchdowns in his college career. He was a high school quarterback who converted to tight end at the college level. His greatest asset is his blocking ability, but he has upside as a receiver.
Joshua Simon, South Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 239
Projected round: Sixth/seventh
Scouting report: Simon lacks bulk but ran an impressive 4.65-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process.
He played with Bailey Zappe at Western Kentucky before transferring to South Carolina. In six college seasons, he caught 154 passes for 1,921 yards with 25 touchdowns. He’ll turn 25 years old in November. He contributed early in college but injuries slowed him in 2021.
Benjamin Yurosek, Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 245
Projected round: Seventh
Scouting report: Used primarily as a blocker at Georgia, Yurosek was a major contributor as a receiver early in his college career at Stanford. In five seasons, he caught 123 passes for 1,527 yards with five touchdowns and ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.