Patriots Sign Rookie Tight End as Undrafted Receiver Is Waived Injured

Overview

• The Patriots announced Friday that they signed undrafted Boston College tight end Jeremiah Franklin and placed undrafted Georgetown receiver Jimmy Kibble on waivers with an injury designation.
• Kibble's roster removal means he must clear the NFL waiver wire before he can revert to New England's injured reserve, and the team has not disclosed the nature of his injury or a recovery timeline.
• Franklin joins a seven-player tight end room that now includes established starter Hunter Henry and rookie Eli Raridon, creating a tight competition for the few remaining roster spots.
• Both players are on standard undrafted rookie deals with no guarantees and a salary at the league minimum, so the moves carry no immediate salary-cap impact under the Top 51 rule.
• Kibble's placement effectively ends his immediate opportunity to earn live reps and a special-teams role this summer, while the signing signals the Patriots' priority to shore up tight end depth after Hill's season-ending injury.