Source + player page
Pats Pulpit fantasy football takes on Mitch Van Vooren
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Pats Pulpit about Mitch Van Vooren.
15
Insights
4
Positive
4
Negative
Insight ledger
All Pats Pulpit insights about Mitch Van Vooren
NegativeDepth ChartAug 18, 2026
Waived by the Patriots after playing just three snaps in the preseason opener against the Colts without registering any statistics; also played two snaps on special teams. The source notes his lack of quality opportunities since arriving in New England made it clear he was facing a major uphill battle for both the 53-man roster and practice squad, making the waiver move unsurprising.NegativeDepth ChartAug 18, 2026
Waived by the Patriots on Tuesday following the signing of veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten; the move opened a roster spot ahead of joint practices with Philadelphia. Van Vooren, a 25-year-old undrafted free agent signed in July, appeared in the preseason opener against Indianapolis, catching one pass for four yards on five total snaps (offense and special teams). He spent his 2025 rookie summer with Seattle and Cleveland after posting 33 receptions, 510 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a graduate student at St. Norbert College in 2024.PositiveRoleAug 13, 2026
Mitch Van Vooren, a tight end who transitioned from a D1 track star to the Patriots, is featured in a profile highlighting his 'tremendous' journey to the NFL roster.NegativeDepth ChartAug 10, 2026
Mitch Van Vooren is projected to be cut from the 53-man roster; he is not among the top three tight ends the Patriots plan to keep.NegativeDepth ChartAug 4, 2026
Tight end on the Patriots roster; the only member of the depth trio (Henry, Raridon, Arkin) who was present at Tuesday's practice, while Dippre remained on PUP and Westover did not participate.NegativeBustJul 28, 2026
Van Vooren's primary weakness is his rawness despite possessing NFL-caliber athleticism. His only significant football experience since high school comprises 22 games against Division III opposition, leaving his route running lacking nuance, his route tree underdeveloped, and his technical repeatability against man coverage unproven. He won mostly through superior athleticism in college—an advantage he cannot rely on against NFL competition. Additionally, he went undrafted in 2025, was not treated as a hot commodity in rookie free agency, received no contract offer from the Browns' rookie minicamp, and spent the entire 2025 season as a free agent after brief stints with Seattle and Cleveland.PositiveBreakoutJul 28, 2026
Van Vooren's athletic profile is described as 'mouth-watering,' combining decent size (6'4.5", 255 lbs) with straight-line speed to get behind defenders on seams and go routes, plus leaping ability from his hurdling background to compete in jump-ball and contested-catch situations. His long arms (8 3/8" hands, 33 1/8" arm length, 81" wingspan) allow him to make catches outside his natural frame. He also demonstrates good feel for tempo, concentration on back-shoulder throws, alignment flexibility, and feisty blocking with active hands at the point of attack.NegativeProjectionJul 28, 2026
The source assesses Van Vooren's growth potential as dependent on developing his raw skill set. At age 25 with only limited football experience, he remains underdeveloped and has yet to perform up to his athletic abilities in the NFL. With more time in a pro-level program, he could compete for a backup inline/H-back role, but the source frames this as an open question: 'Will he ever do so?' His 2026 outlook centers on proving himself worthy of practice squad development rather than pushing for an active roster spot.NegativeRoleJul 28, 2026
Van Vooren joined the Patriots as a camp body and practice squad candidate on a one-year, non-guaranteed $885,000 minimum deal. The source projects his 2026 role as a rotational flex tight end capable of filling multiple spots in the lineup, with potential to compete for a backup inline/H-back role if he develops. However, his roster outlook is described as 'quite bleak' given his underdeveloped status, limited football experience (only 22 Division III games before 2025), and late arrival before training camp; other tight ends on the roster are in better position to fill the depth void behind Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon.NegativeRoleJul 25, 2026
Second-year tight end added right before camp. The source notes that having an established blocker in the room would help give the team more security than Van Vooren and other backup options can provide.NegativeDepth ChartJul 24, 2026
Second-year tight end Mitch Van Vooren was signed by the Patriots on consecutive days with Jeremiah Franklin to add depth to the tight end room after Julian Hill's season-ending injury.NegativeDepth ChartJul 24, 2026
Tight end signed by Patriots in same transaction window as Franklin; part of roster moves addressing tight end depth chart needs following Julian Hill's season-ending injured reserve placement.NegativeDepth ChartJul 23, 2026
Newly-signed tight end Mitch Van Vooren is competing for a depth spot in the Patriots tight end room alongside Jack Westover, C.J. Dippre and Tanner Arkin, with potentially only one roster spot available beyond Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon.PositiveRoleJul 23, 2026
Signed by the Patriots as tight end depth ahead of training camp; the source notes tight end was specifically mentioned by head coach Mike Vrabel as a position that could see further talent infusion. Van Vooren brings an intriguing athletic background despite not being invited to the Scouting Combine: the 6-foot-5, 255-pounder was a standout track athlete who set school records in the 400-meter hurdles at both St. Norbert and Marquette, was voted to the All-Big East Outdoor team in 2022, and named first-team All-American in 2023. He enters as a depth piece and possible camp body, giving the Patriots extra options to evaluate with over a month until the 53-man roster deadline.PositiveRoleJul 22, 2026
Tight end Mitch Van Vooren, 25, was signed to the Patriots active roster on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound undrafted free agent originally began his NFL career in 2025, spending time with Seattle and Cleveland before being cut by the Browns in August. In college at St. Norbert, he appeared in 22 games and caught 65 passes for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns.