Player Signing Two new signings- TE Julian Hill and S Mike Brown

Hugepatsfan · Mar 12, 2026

Can't really take "up to" contract values seriously. Also worth pointing out that MIA declined to offer him an RFA tender which would have been $3.5M for one year, so to see him get a serious multi year offer seem surprising. Their cap crunch could have played into that decision though.

This reminds me a bit of the offer on Christian Elliss that we matched last year. It seemed way high for what he was, but still so low that it wasn't really a major commitment. I would say he played his way into that deal and hopefully Hill will do the same. It seems like this a real TE2 signing in their mind though and not just a camp guy, shot in the dark.

rochrist · Mar 12, 2026

patfanken said:
I was going to state that this was a guy who you sign in June, but after I read his story, this is clearly a special kid who looks like he can be one of those guys who exceeds his physical abilities on the field. We need better blocking from our TE, and he could be just what we are looking for. Anything he can bring to the passing game will be gravy

And don't forget Mike Brown. IIRC he's been a starter in the league, and we need solid depth pieces too. Another guy who is usually signed after the draft, but does it matter WHEN a guy is signed in the end. These guys are not the guys that move the so called needle, but they may become important once the season starts.

Watched some video of Mike Brown and that guy breaks people in two with his hits.

mgteich · Mar 12, 2026

Hill was signed to a 3-year contract.

I'm one who has penciled in this Vrabel favorite to be our #2 blocking TE.
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I'm sure others think that UDFA Dippre will have no trouble beating him out.
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Yes, Dippre will compete for a possible #3 TE spot.

Hawaiipatsfan2 · Mar 12, 2026

bakes781 said:
Lets compare

It’s draft season and I love me so good ras scores

Here’s my favorite ever

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

Hawaiipatsfan2 said:
It’s draft season and I love me so good ras scores

Here’s my favorite ever

Boy that guy has bust written all over, doesn’t he?

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

mgteich said:
Hill was signed to a 3-year contract.

I'm one who has penciled in this Vrabel favorite to be our #2 blocking TE.
==========
I'm sure others think that UDFA Dippre will have no trouble beating him out.
========
Yes, Dippre will compete for a possible #3 TE spot.

Me too.

And if he shows the ability to catch, as I think he may, he may turn out to be our TEOTF.

Remember he was a real hotshot basketball player before he was a football player, so his hands may be surprisingly good. I think there’s a lot of carryover from a shooter’s touch to catching passes.

It’ll be fun to watch. I’m sure Vrabel will give him every chance to succeed.

Hugepatsfan · Mar 12, 2026

Very interested to see the details of his contract. He was non-tendered by MIA for 1 year, $3.5M. On paper, I would have assumed this would be a standard, 1 year close to minimum deal. You don't normally see players sign 3 year deals for very low amounts because there's just not a lot of upside for them. If the money is low, you're better off with a short term so if you ever do breakout you can cash in and if you don't you can keep signing minimum deals.

The fact it went 3 years, up to $18M tells me he's a guy they liked a fair amount and see real potential for him to outplay his current status. So they threw in some extra juice on the deal to entice him to lock in for 3 years. He may or may not ever live up to the deal. If he doesn't, it's such a low overall number anyway that it doesn't kill you. If he does reward their faith, they locked in a nice contributor for quite a few years at a really low number.

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

patfanken said:
I was going to state that this was a guy who you sign in June, but after I read his story, this is clearly a special kid who looks like he can be one of those guys who exceeds his physical abilities on the field. We need better blocking from our TE, and he could be just what we are looking for. Anything he can bring to the passing game will be gravy

No argument, just that you triggered one of my hot buttons with the prejudice (prejudice literally means pre judging).

What are his physical abilities?

How do we know?

His early upbringing sure didn’t provide a good showcase for athleticism, except maybe dodging bullets and outrunning gang fights well enough to survive.

Hampered by injuries in high school, unwanted except by a small college, totally unheralded.

Unable to show his abilities because of circumstances not necessarily because of any lack of abilities.

Let’s see what he does to make the most of this opportunity. It’s clear Vrabel has given him a tremendous vote of confidence. I’m sure he’ll be totally bought in by day 1. Seems like a good bet to be a locker room favorite too,

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

PatsFan2 said:
Doesn't move the needle: we have basically nothing after can't Block H Henry. I hope we double dip I want a TE who excels at Blocking with Catching upside.

Sam Roush
Tanner Koziol
Oscar Delp
Max Klare
Eli Raridon
Marlin Klein

What does it take to move your needle?

I’ve got $100 that says he will move the needle for the Pats, barring injury, but from your post history I’d expect for you it’d take something totally unrealistic, like AJ Brown numbers, or maybe Travis Kelce (minus Taylor Swift of course).

Are you ever going to get excited about a blocking TE? What would you want to see there?

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

TommyD4207 said:
I like Hill's raw ability a lot. I think he ends up making a couple of important plays on offense, either in the run game or the pass game.

You're right that they're both going to be core special teamers for the most part, but I do have hopes for Hill long term. There's a reason the Patriots signed him up for 3 years.

I very much agree. It would not surprise me to have him start out as the blocking TE and turn into a sleeper pass threat.

If he does as well as I expect he will I think we may have him here for more than 3 years.

Crazy Patriot Guy · Mar 12, 2026

n1997y said:
I very much agree. It would not surprise me to have him start out as the blocking TE and turn into a sleeper pass threat.

If he does as well as I expect he will I think we may have him here for more than 3 years.

I sure hope so. After reading that article, I honestly can't recall ever rooting harder for a player to be successful.

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

Wozzy said:
The TE has a little athleticism and seems to have good hands, but all I see are special teams players and end of the depth chart guys. I could be wrong, and have been in the past.

I hope they still add a TE and Safety in the draft. Dippre also has to work his butt off and step up this year.

I’m inferring you have not read his backstory. Go find it and read all three installments. Longish but worth it. He is an off the charts plus character asset. I think both his athleticism and his hands are being underrated, based on his basketball background.

Ring 6 · Mar 12, 2026

mgteich said:
Hill was signed to a 3-year contract.

I'm one who has penciled in this Vrabel favorite to be our #2 blocking TE.
==========
I'm sure others think that UDFA Dippre will have no trouble beating him out.
========
Yes, Dippre will compete for a possible #3 TE spot.

What do you mean that hill is a “Vrabel favorite”? They have no history together.

n1997y · Mar 12, 2026

Ring 6 said:
What do you mean that hill is a “Vrabel favorite”? They have no history together.

Regardless of history, his contract says a lot about how they value him.

Ring 6 · Mar 12, 2026

n1997y said:
Regardless of history, his contract says a lot about how they value him.

We don’t know the real contact but someone keeps posting “Vrabel knows him well” and “Vrabel favorite” which would imply there is a connection

Zuma · Mar 12, 2026

Ring 6 said:
We don’t know the real contact but someone keeps posting “Vrabel knows him well” and “Vrabel favorite” which would imply there is a connection

I've seen this more then once as well. No idea.

Julian "Vrabel Knows Me Well" Hill

PATSYLICIOUS · Mar 13, 2026

When we traded for dwayne allen roughly 9 years ago he had 3 years, 17.6m left on his deal.

Wozzy · Mar 13, 2026

n1997y said:
I’m inferring you have not read his backstory. Go find it and read all three installments. Longish but worth it. He is an off the charts plus character asset. I think both his athleticism and his hands are being underrated, based on his basketball background.

I mean… he was the third TE for the Dolphins. Reminds me of Matt LaCosse. Okay inline speed and explosion, not super mobile. Could contribute, not a starter by any means unless something goes terribly wrong on the injury front.

Palm Beach Pats Fan · Mar 13, 2026

The draft has some TE depth, I have heard.

DaBruinz · Mar 14, 2026

Wozzy said:
I mean… he was the third TE for the Dolphins. Reminds me of Matt LaCosse. Okay inline speed and explosion, not super mobile. Could contribute, not a starter by any means unless something goes terribly wrong on the injury front.

Since when do #3 TEs take 441 of the offensive snaps? Nearly 200 more than the next TE on the team?

Dulcich played 245 snaps
Waller played 234 shaps
Tanner Conner played 181 snaps

Hill was #3 when it came to TE Targets (20), but #1 in snaps because he was on the field blocking for their run game. You're downplaying him because he's a blocking TE that you don't know enough about.

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