PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Clare Cooper

It’s that rookie time of year!

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It’s that time of year where we talk about 90 different players, even though 37 of them won’t be on that final roster, and we do it with gusto because we are fans after all.

The weekend saw rookie minicamp and some signings. A little early for much surprise and much information, but let’s see what went on…

Friday May 8th the Pats signed up 5 of the draft selections:

CB Karon Prunty 

T Dametrious Crownover

LB Namdi Obiazar

QB Behren Morton

RB Jam Miller

Saturday was extra exciting with the reported signing of TE Eli Raridon and LB Quintayvious Hutchins. 

I don’t mean to move the spotlight from the 6 foot 3 linebacker from Boston College, but you all know my affinity for a spot of tight endage, and third round draft pick,6 foot 6 245 lb Notre Dame tight end, has me excited for the season! 

The rookie mini camp saw a few bits of information, but at the moment, with it so early in the training part of the season, and no pads or contact, there’s only so much you can take from any reports. 

Caleb Lomu took reps at left tackle AND at right tackle, with full participation on Saturday, giving head to the possibility that this kid is going to be that swing tackle back up guy, before taking his position of the future. Perhaps. 

Dametrious Crownover, the 6 foot 7, 319lb mammoth human, selected in the sixth round by the Pats, reportedly took all his reps at his college position of right tackle, with exceptionally light feet. 

Two UDFA’s of note, Tanner Arkin TE of Illinois and David Blay Junior of Miami. Whilst Tanner Arkin is looking at a room becoming cramped for a spot, with the Patriots stacking up the TE room with Hunter Henry, off season free agent signing Julian Hill, the third round pick of Eli Raridon, as well as C.J Dippre still around, Arkin may be fighting for a practice squad role more than a realistic 53 man roster spot however I feel about how many TE’s there should be!

David Blay Jnr whilst a smidge undersized for a nose tackle, at 6 foot 2 and 292lbs, is the only DT the Pats picked up during this post draft season. 

May 11th we were advised that the Pats had signed linebacker Xavier Holmes and safety Peter Manuma following a good rookie mini camp. 

The other news to come out, if you are into that sort of thing of course, is roster numbers. At this time of year this kind of thing is still a little fluid, but for those of you that like to know…

OL Jared Wilson has shifted to 55, his number at Georgia. 

DT Eric Gregory switched from 55 to 95. 

WR Kyle Williams said to be moving to 8, has reportedly stuck with his original number of 18. 

Presently for the rest of the newbies, as I write this anyways we have:

Prunty at 21, Crownover taking 68, Obiazar number 48, new QB Morton wearing 15, Hutchins 45 and RB Jam Miller 30. 

To top this all off, making me a happy bunny (sorry a touch personal, I get it, but you stay for the fun!) Eli Raridon selecting a proper (in my humble opinion) tight end number of 82. 

So there’s a little summary, with much still to come, including a new episode of Pats Procrastination (hopefully) next week.

Go Pats!

For the love of the game

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You can tell we haven’t had football for a while, when fans are full of excitement for a mini-camp of the undrafted free agents!

I tease of course, but it is mostly true. When you’re a passionate fan, you put a lot into the team you support, the sport that you love. Because there it is, love. The biggest feeling there is. 

Sure, you love different people, different things, in very varying ways but it still comes down to raw emotion when you look at it. Even the most stoic and cold of individuals can burn with the desire to see their team succeed. 

And so, it’s that time of year where we talk about 90 different players, even though 37 of them won’t be on that final roster, and we do it with gusto because, hey that’s football, right?

Opinions ride high this time of year too, and there isn’t exactly much to report, particularly if you don’t want to stoop to the level of the gossip column type “news”. 

Theres definitely scuttlebutt surrounding Steph Diggs at the time I’m writing this, with rookie numbers being released and the report that Kyle Williams will NOT be switching to Diggs’ old number of 8, but shall be sticking at 18… eye ball emoji anyone?

The AJ Brown news has barely been news, even when it first came out. There are so many things that MAY happen, sometimes you can report everything and hope something sticks, or you can choose not to. I think i’ll go with that until something happens. 

June first is however, fast approaching, and with many of Pats Nation convinced the AJ Brown deal is.. well, a done deal… the morning of June second is going to possibly be an emotional one. And there we have it again, the emotion of being a fan. 

Some of you may like to pretend that you’re tough and don’t feel anything, well I got news for you, you lovely lot, toughness is feeling, is letting yourself get caught up in the emotion and showing it too. 

But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a dictating you’re getting, everyone fans their own way and as long as you don’t hurt anyone there’s no harm in nothing, you feel or don’t feel whatever you like.

My point here is whether we are emotional or stoic, scream and shout, or whisper in the dark, when we come together as a fan group it’s all gravy baby! We can love the same thing all as one, and I’m guessing if you’re reading this, it’s because the Patriots are that love.

So, let’s welcome in the crazy, the emotions, the love. Because heck, something has gotta get us through to September.

Go Pats!

Gronk voted 38th inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame

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On 23rd April in the 2010 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected Robert James Gronkowski, tight end from Arizona. 

Round 2, pick number 142 saw the Pats take 6 foot 6, 264 lbs of sheer physical football player… with a large side order of crazy too.

The Gronkowski on stage draft celebrations are well known, as is the story of how Gronk’s pre-draft visit went with the New England coaches. Not so spoiler alert – He fell asleep on the floor of the meeting room. 

For nine seasons, Gronk sacrificed his huge body for the NEP, creating multiple memorable moments and plays, smashing records and making history, in particular, becoming the first of his player position to lead the league in receiving touchdowns with 17 in 2011. 

Following a retirement threat in 2018 if Bill Belichick traded him to the Detroit Lions, on 24th March 2019, at just 29 years old Rob Gronkowski retired… for a little while. 

I should add here the two year story of his un-retirement to play with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and them winning a Super Bowl together… but let’s not bother with that now, this is a Patriots site after all. 

The 12th November 2025 saw Gronk sign a one day ceremonial contract to finally, officially retire a Patriot. 

Sixteen years (and about a week) on 29th April 2026 the New England Patriot fans voted that same one Robert Gronkowski into the Patriots Hall of Fame. The GOAT of tight ends is getting his red jacket. 

In his career as a Patriot in Foxborough, this hunk of tight endage racked up 521 receptions, 7861 yards, and 79 touch downs, securing 3 Super Bowl rings in his nine year tenure. 

That particular tight end was the reason that this particular New England Patriots fan from (old) England fell in love with American Football. He was the catalyst for an adoration that could not be denied, and I wondered where it had been all my life!

And so, on a currently undisclosed date, Patriots Nation can celebrate Gronk once more as he is immortalised in yet one more way, with a red jacket in the Patriots Hall of Fame… exactly as he should be.

Go Pats! 

Pats Procrastination – YouTube show Episode 93 – a smidge of free agency, a pinch of pre draft and plenty of 28 – 3 tee to support Hallie

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Join Chudders and Clazzy Clare as they continue to bring you their “off” season musings and opinions. 

Clazzy Clare and Chudders bring you a little Patriots chat, in a casual and light hearted show that (hopefully) has you feeling like you’re sitting back and having a laugh with some fellow Patriots buddies!

Honoring Hallie: March 28 (and 29) Charity Push for 28‑3 Tees

The history, and future, of the Pats TE position… and picking up that sixth year option

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Photo credit: Mark Konezny – USA TODAY Sports

As I sit writing this, on the eve of my five year anniversary of signing at Pats Propaganda, I ponder, is this the Patriots year of TE?

We have recently seen the commencement of the Chinese New Year with the year of the horse… the spirit animal of a traditional tight end perhaps?

Could the stars be aligning for me, as I move into year six of my content creating that finally the Patriots are going to gift me that new TE?!?

Okay, seriously, I know this is not about me at all, but let’s be frank, the Patriots have not appeared to be serious about the dynamic position since Rob Gronkowski retired from the Patriots. (We don’t need to discuss his un-retirement to play with Tom Brady in Tampa, okay?!)

My rebound guy Ryan Izzo was drafted in 2018, but round seven, 250th and unfortunately did not even play his first year, spending the 2018 season on injured reserve. 

2019 saw a minefield of ‘ready for retirement’ Ben Watson playing with an injured and kind of journeyman TE of Matt LaCosse, whilst I was still hoping Ryan Izzo wouldn’t break my heart. 

The 2020 draft saw a lack of high end athleticism at the TE position, but the Pats had a bash, and double dipped with pick 91 being Devin Asiasi and 101 for Dalton Keene. Unfortunately, this was to be another mismatch and both of these guys were released in 2022, with poor Dalton Keene being limited to only six games due to various injuries plaguing his two seasons.

It finally happened in 2021, Bill Belichick broke my little rebounded heart and traded Ryan Izzo away to the Houston Texans, but he did bring in Hunter Henry from the LA Chargers and Jonnu Smith. Now, whilst many fans were lamenting over Smith’s superb athleticism, my TE gut feelings weren’t as settled. I wasn’t certain it was necessarily the right fit but Hunter Henry ticked my boxes, and I was looking forward to Jonnu proving me wrong. Unfortunately, he did not, and the Pats traded him away in 2023. 

The Patriots 2022 53 man roster saw two tight ends as they rolled with Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, not picking up any of the draft available TE’s such as Trey McBride or Isaiah Likely but adding Jalen Wydermyer to the practice squad for a while. Matt Sokol was also brought into the fold claimed off waivers from the LA Chargers, but he hopped around mostly on the practice squad too. 

The draft class of 2023 was STACKED and the Patriots were in need… trouble is they were in need of plenty of player positions and some of these guys were going high. Nevertheless there were a glorious glut of names, Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid, Michael Mayer, Tucker Kraft… need I go on? Probably not because I might cry, especially since the Patriots didn’t draft any, they brought in Johnny Lumpkin as an UDFA, only to waiver him in the summer. The Pats did bring in Mike Gesicki, athletic TE from the Miami Dolphins and I was excited. I ignored my little inner voice of ‘but he’s similar to Jonnu’ and ‘he really isn’t a blocker’ and was all in. Gesicki played 17 games, with 10 starts and put up 29 receptions for 244 yards and two touchdowns, providing a modest red-zone target but failing to replicate his high-production Miami years and so after one season… he gone. 

Whatever was a TE loving girl to do?! 

2024 wasn’t much for TE’s in the draft other than Brock Bowers so I had finally began to taper my expectations. Good job really as they only picked up Jaheim Bell in the 7th round and as lovely a guy as he was, he didn’t see the field much and was released after the 2025 training camp. The Pats did sign Austin Hooper to a one year deal and the Hooper-Henry tandem was a decent one, not dynamic but definitely a good veteran combination for a young quarterback such as Drake Maye, with Hooper putting up 45 receptions and 3 touchdowns. 

Finally, 2025 and the Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, Mason Taylor et al draft. But the Patriots.. nope. Well, not really. They did sign UDFA CJ Dippre. Dippre was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts but joined the practice squad the next day.He was signed to the active roster on November 17. Marshall Lang was picked up for… two days. So, with Jack Westover an official FB, the Pats ran it back with the solid combo of Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, which I was happy with. Mostly. 

And now here we are, 2026, with a draft class that has a sweet spot of the second round for a run of decent tight ends. Top of the pack is definitely Kenyon Sadiq, and he’s going in the first round. With serious athleticism this Oregan TE is probably too rich for the Patriots at 31. But this year, with darling coach Vrabel mentioning how there’s volume at the tight end class, so… you’re saying there’s a chance?!?

And so, whilst trying to steel the marshmallow soft heart I have, perhaps let myself feel again. Maybe. 

And so to that end, what are we looking at? 

As aforementioned, the stud that is Kenyon Sadiq with his explosive athleticism probably isn’t dropping to the Pats at 31, so I’ve turned my attention to the mid cluster, those that with a little time could be proper starters. The youth and future of the Patriots tight end position, to work and grow with Drake Maye. The future of our franchise baby!

There’s definitely a group of the more athletic, a bit less blocking type TE’s but the 2026 class really has quite a selection to choose from with a lot of potential. Like anything, potential doesn’t guarantee success but there are so many names that I’m keeping my eye on that I feel like I have a box of chocolates selection!

As there were 27 tight ends at the combine alone, with varying amounts of testing, I shall not bore you with an assessment of every single one. I won’t go into the details of some of the more top prospects either, with Max Klare being very high on my list, an athlete with fluidity and a strong route runner, Klare is not a natural blocker and needs work but is expected to be a top-60 selection. 

On my radar, possibly further down the draft board (or maybe even not, because these things are truly not a science!) are the likes of Sam Roush, Will Kacmarek and John Michael Gyllenborg. 

If I were to admit to a draft crush, which I usually do, I’m a little tied up this year with multiples. Now, let me preface that with the fact that there are quite a few tight ends that I want to look into further, that by the time draft day rolls around I will be crushing on them too, but for now I shall stick with Stanford’s Sam Roush with his 6 foot 6, 267 pound frame as a plug and play in line blocker, and maybe John Michael Gyllenborg, also at 6 foot 6, with a slightly smaller frame of 249 pounds, who ran a good smooth gauntlet and had great execution of the sledge drill with good hips. 

That’s not to say I’m cooler on Max Klare, or maybe even the soft handed fluid athlete that is Georgia’s Oscar Delp, it’s just there’s only so many hours in the day that you lovely lot are going to read my TE ramblings, and I have to stop somewhere. 

In conclusion, dear Pats Nation, the future may be bright and it may, finally, be full of tight endage!

Go Pats!

I Like Tight Ends Short Sleeve Unisex T-Shirt