The Patriots still have a hole at tight end, and a new projection may have pointed them toward a trade they should at least explore.
New England went into the 2026 offseason trying to patch multiple weak spots, including both lines after the Super Bowl LX loss to the Seahawks exposed problems in the trenches. But the tight end room remains a separate issue, and it has become more urgent after an injury to Julian Hill threw the plan off course.
The Patriots had already taken a swing at the position by drafting Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon in the third round to back up both Hunter Henry and Hill. With Hill now injured, that setup looks shaky, and the team may need a more reliable veteran option.
That’s where the Raiders come in. ESPN’s Ben Solak recently projected that Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is a lock to win "NFL Offensive Player of the Year", and that could create an opening for New England. If Bowers is the clear centerpiece in Las Vegas, the Patriots may have a shot at the other tight end on the roster: Mike Mayer.
Mayer just turned 25 and is entering his fourth year in the league. At 6'4" and 256 pounds, he posted 35 catches for 328 yards and a touchdown on 50 targets in 2025. That’s the kind of production that doesn’t scream star, but it does suggest a young player who could step into a bigger role if the opportunity opens up.
And that’s the key here. With Bowers ahead of him, Mayer could be the odd man out. For the Patriots, that makes him a logical target if they’re looking for a tight end who can help right away without costing a fortune.
New England could try to build a deal around draft picks and possibly add one of its receivers to soften the asking price. Kayshon Boutte and Pop Douglas both have enough NFL value to potentially lower what the Raiders would demand. That matters because, beyond edge rusher, tight end is one of the thinnest spots on the Patriots’ roster right now.
Hunter Henry is still there, but he isn’t getting any younger, and there’s no NFL-tested tight end waiting behind him. If Mayer becomes available and the price is reasonable, the Patriots should be ready to move.
In Other News...
Will Campbell Just Answered A Huge Patriots Fear
Will Campbell spent the offseason around some of the leagues better offensive linemen, working with Lane Johnson, Dion Dawkins and Tyler Guyton as he tries to sharpen the parts of his game that were exposed during a rocky rookie year. For a Patriots team that used the No. 4 overall pick on him, the focus has been on helping Campbell settle in, clean up the rough edges and look more like the player they believed they were getting when they made him their left tackle of the future.
The bigger backdrop is what happened in Super Bowl LX, where Campbells performance only added to the scrutiny that had started building late in the season. There had been plenty of noise about whether his best long-term fit might be somewhere else on the line, but New England has made clear it views him as a tackle and expects him to keep working on the blindside job the Patriots drafted him to handle. [Read more 🡒]
CBS Just Gave Drake Maye Another Patriots Fans Wont Forget
CBS Sports latest quarterback rankings gave Drake Maye a respectable but still eye-catching spot in the middle of the pack, placing the Patriots young passer 16th among NFL starters and in the outlets Borderline Stars tier. For a player who led the league in completion percentage and passer rating while helping push New England to the Super Bowl, it is a reminder that the national conversation has not quite caught up to the production.
The comparison at the top of the list only sharpens the debate, with Matthew Stafford landing above Maye despite the Patriots quarterbacks standout season. CBS pointed to the difference in surrounding conditions, noting Maye took more sacks and worked with a less effective receiving corps than Stafford did, and that context will matter again as New England keeps trying to build a more complete offense around him. [Read more 🡒]