The New England Patriots are back where they believe they belong - deep in the postseason, one win away from another Super Bowl appearance. After a 14-3 regular season and two convincing playoff victories, they’re set to square off with the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship. And while this team has been built on defense, discipline, and decades of culture, the engine behind this year’s run has a new name: Drake Maye.
In just his second season, Maye has gone from promising prospect to full-blown MVP candidate. He racked up 4,844 all-purpose yards and 35 total touchdowns - numbers that would’ve made him a frontrunner for the league’s top individual honor in most seasons, if not for the resurgence of Matthew Stafford out west. Maye’s growth has been the story of the season in Foxborough, and it’s clear the Patriots have found their next franchise quarterback.
A big part of that success? Trustworthy targets - and none more so than veteran tight end Hunter Henry.
Now two years into his connection with Maye, Henry turned in one of the best seasons of his career, setting a new personal best with 768 receiving yards and adding seven touchdowns. He’s been a steady presence in the red zone and a reliable safety valve in the middle of the field.
But here’s the thing: Henry’s contract is up after this season. So is Austin Hooper’s after 2025.
Both are seasoned vets - Henry in his ninth year, Hooper in his tenth - and while they’ve been productive, the Patriots are staring at the future of the tight end position. It’s time to start thinking about the next chapter.
And that brings us to Kyle Pitts.
If there’s a name to circle this offseason, it’s Pitts. The former first-round pick out of Florida exploded onto the scene as a rookie in Atlanta, posting over 1,000 receiving yards and flashing the kind of athleticism that made scouts drool. But the three seasons that followed were underwhelming - a mix of inconsistent quarterback play, coaching turnover, and questionable usage left his career drifting.
Then came 2025.
Pitts bounced back in a big way this past season, catching 88 passes on 118 targets and finding the end zone five times - all career highs. He reminded everyone why he was once considered a generational talent at the position.
And here’s the kicker: he won’t turn 26 until October. His best football could still be ahead of him.
If the Falcons decide not to use the franchise tag and can’t lock him up long-term, the Patriots should be among the first teams in line. And not just in line - they should be leading the charge.
Why? Because Pitts fits what New England is building.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has this unit humming, finishing fourth in the league in passing yards per game (262.3) and second in scoring. This isn’t the conservative, grind-it-out offense of old - this is a team that wants to air it out, and Pitts would thrive in that kind of system.
At 6’6”, 250 pounds, with the speed and agility of a wide receiver, Pitts is a matchup nightmare. Linebackers can’t run with him.
Safeties can’t body him up. He’s the kind of player who can line up anywhere - in-line, in the slot, out wide - and create chaos for defenses.
And with Maye entering year three, adding a weapon like Pitts could be the move that elevates this offense from dangerous to downright terrifying.
For Patriots fans, the thought of Pitts in Foxborough is tantalizing. For defensive coordinators, it’s a problem they don’t want to solve.
With the AFC title game on deck and the future looking bright, New England has a chance to not just stay relevant - but to dominate for years to come. Making a run at Kyle Pitts could be the next big step in that journey.