The Patriots signed Boston College tight end Jeremiah Franklin following a workout, and this is exactly the kind of low-risk move that makes sense for a team still building depth at a critical position. Franklin's a local product—literally from Chestnut Hill—which means the coaching staff can evaluate film they've watched closely and tap into a pipeline they know. For a team under Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf still establishing their roster identity, that's smart work.
The tight end room is crowded but not settled. You've got Hunter Henry as the proven veteran, Austin Hooper adding experience, and a collection of younger options in Tanner Arkin, Marshall Lang, Eli Raridon, Julian Hill, and CJ Dippre. None of those guys has separated from the pack yet, which means there's genuine competition for reps. Franklin enters that battle as an undrafted or late-round prospect trying to carve out a role—exactly the kind of proving ground where college production matters less than scheme fit and coachability.
Here's what matters: training camp rosters are fluid. Bodies show up, get evaluated, and either stick around or move on. Signing Franklin doesn't crowd the depth chart in any meaningful way. If he shows something during camp—snap efficiency, hands, ability to work in-line—he has a real shot at sticking as a fourth or fifth option. If not, the Patriots haven't blocked any path forward for their draft picks or free agent signings. That's low-cost, high-upside roster construction, and it's the foundation of sustainable success.
The Boston College connection matters too. Vrabel and his staff will have plenty of tape on Franklin already. They know the conference, they know the player development timeline, and they can make an informed decision faster than working from scratch on someone from a non-Power Four program. That efficiency compounds across dozens of roster decisions.
This signing won't move the needle on SportsCenter, but it's exactly how good teams build. Patient, methodical, connected to verifiable information. Franklin gets his shot in training camp. The Patriots get a look at potential without commitment. That's the deal.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.