On paper, it appears the New England Patriots are in solid shape at tight end. Hunter Henry was one of their most reliable players in 2025; Julian Hill was recently added on a three-year contract; Jack Westover offers positional flexibility; C.J. Dippre and Marshall Lang provide developmental depth.
However, tight end might be one of the most pressing needs on the roster heading into this year’s NFL Draft. Henry was a non-factor in the playoffs and will turn 32 this season; Hill’s pact is effectively of the year-to-year variety; Westover is unproven as a pro-level tight end, as are Dippre and Lang.
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The Patriots adding to the mix later this month therefore makes plenty of sense. And if they opt to, Justin Joly is a player worth keeping on the radar.
Hard facts
Name: Justin Joly
Position: Tight end
School: N.C. State (Sr.)
Opening day age: 22 (7/9/2004)
Measurements: 6’3 1/2”, 241 lbs, 32 1/4” arm length, 10 1/2” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic Score
Experience
Colleges: UConn (2022-23), N.C. State (2024-25)
Career statistics: 49 games (34 starts) | 1,931 offensive snaps, 145 special teams snaps | 233 targets, 166 catches (71.2%), 1,986 receiving yards (12.0/catch), 15 TDs, 10 drops | 3 QB pressures allowed (1 hit, 2 hurries) | 1 special teams tackle | 6 penalties (incl. 0 declined/offset)
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Accolades: First-team All-ACC (2025)
A two-star wide receiver recruit who also played running back, linebacker and defensive end at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, NY, Joly started his college career at UConn — and at tight end. He spent two seasons with the Huskies, during which he caught 74 passes for 828 yards and four touchdowns. Despite being the team’s receiving leader in 2023, he opted to enter the transfer portal after the season.
Joly was rated a four-star recruit at that point, and after receiving multiple scholarship offers took his talents to N.C. State. In two seasons with the Wolfpack, he added 92 more receptions for 1,158 yards and 11 scores to his résumé and also earned recognition as the top tight end in the ACC in 2025.
Draft profile
Projected round: 3-4 | Consensus big board: No. 117 | Patriots meeting: N/A
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Strengths: Joly being a converted wide receiver shows up on tape time and again. In fact, he might have the best hands among all tight ends in this year’s draft class. His hand-eye coordination is top notch, as are his body control and ability to position himself relative to defenders; he creates subtle separation. As a result, he maximizes what is otherwise a rather pedestrian catch radius and, in turn, is able to put himself in a favorable position in contested catch situations. He also has shown that he can find soft spots in zone coverage.
Joly has moved around the formation quite a bit in college, and as a blocker has had some encouraging moments. He moves well on outside zone plays and shows proper effort and finishing. He also has managed to add to his frame since switching to tight end, which in turn has allowed him to be more competitive as a blocker.
Weaknesses: Joly is a work in progress as a blocker both from a build and a technique perspective. He is on the smaller size relative to traditional tight end standards, ranking in the 9th percentile in weight and in the 24th percentile in both height and arm length. He can’t do anything about his lack of length, but he needs to continue adding to his frame and upon arriving in the NFL make the strength room his home.
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The question is how more mass might impact his ability to run crisp routes, something that has already been an issue at times; he can be more consistent with his breaks and making more decisive cuts not to leave himself vulnerable to being undercut by defenders. In general, he won’t wow you with quickness and is not a particularly elusive player with the ball in his hands.
Patriots preview
What would be his role? Joly is more wide receiver than true tight end at this stage in his career, which means he would likely see most of his snaps early on as a big slot rather than a true inline option. That said, he will likely still get his opportunities at several spots in the lineup — from the slot, to out wide, to the backfield as an H-back type. As for his workload, he projects as a No. 2 receiving tight end and would be the primary backup to Hunter Henry in that regard.
Does he have positional versatility? While his lack of bulk will be a limiting factor, Joly still provides a skillset that should allow him to be used quite flexibly. As noted above, he could line up in several positions and therefore potentially serve as a matchup weapon for Josh McDaniels.
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What is his growth potential? Joly only truly started playing tight end in college, and is still quite raw in several aspects of the position. Blocking is the biggest area where he needs to show improvement, and there are two related main areas to focus on: getting stronger and getting bigger. If he can do so without compromising his movement skills and route running, the 21-year-old has a bright future ahead. Even if he never becomes an elite blocker, though, his receiving skills alone make him a high-upside prospect who could become a decent starter-level player down the line.
Why the Patriots? As mentioned earlier, the Patriots have a definitive need at tight end in both the short and the long run. Drafting Joly would help with the former but realistically be all about the latter: with Henry entering the final year of his contract, he would be groomed as a possible replacement from 2027 on. Even if he fails to develop into a true TE1, however, the team might be intrigued by his high-level receiving skills.
Why not the Patriots? This year’s draft offers plenty of tight end prospects with similar skillsets in the middle rounds. Joly distinguishes himself due to his impressive hands, but he does have deficits relative to others. Ultimately, it will all depend on what the Patriots value and whether or not they believe in a developmental outlook that might be too uncertain for their liking.
One-sentence verdict: Even if he never develops into an all-around tight end, Joly’s receiving skills alone should help him find a steady job in the NFL and contribute positively in the passing game.
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For more information about Justin Joly and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.
Also, what do you think about Joly as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
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