Patriots lose $15 million free agent signing Julian Hill for season: Devastating

Two days after trading for AJ Brown, the New England Patriots could be looking for another pass catcher.The Patriots placed tight end Julian Hill on injured reserve on Monday after a knee injury in a voluntary offseason practice knocked the former Miami Dolphin out for the year.“Julian won’t be able to play this season, plain and simple.

Devastating.Awful.

I really enjoyed the person and want to have him around here as much as we possibly can.He won’t be able to play this season,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said.

Hill joined New England in March, signing a three-year, $15 million deal.“That’s just disappointing because of the impact he made in a short amount of time with his teammates, the person that he is, the way he practiced,” Vrabel said.“We want Julian to be a part of us as much as possible, but he’s not going to do that on the field this year.” The tight end spent the last three seasons with the Dolphins after making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

In 45 games played, Hill recorded 288 yards on 33 receptions.Hill was brought to New England to fill Austin Hooper’s role as Hunter Henry’s backup.Hooper, who left on a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, had 21 receptions for 263 yards last season.If the Patriots can’t replace Hill, they will have to lean more on the nine-year veteran Henry.

The former Arkansas Razorback played in every regular-season game in 2025 and put up 768 yards and seven touchdowns.Henry joined the Patriots in 2021 after spending four years with the Los Angeles Chargers.His 5,295 career yards ranked fifth amongst active tight ends.

Hill’s injury also means a larger role for Notre Dame rookie tight end Eli Raridon.The third-round draft choice had 32 receptions for 623 yards and three touchdowns in last season for the Irish.Raridon has had injury problems himself, already suffering two ACL tears....