New England Patriots Rumors: Hunter Henry headlines tight end targets
If the New England Patriots are out to fill the void left by Rob Gronkowski at tight end, targeting free agent Hunter Henry may be the move to make.
With free agency and the NFL draft fast approaching, the New England Patriots will be looking to re-load on the offensive side of the football, mainly at the tight end position.
Rumor has it, a player that has “consistently” come up in conversation is 25-year-old Hunter Henry.
Headlining the free agency crop at tight end is Henry, a 2016 second-round pick who has yet to reach his full potential primarily due to injury. While he missed the entire 2018 regular season due to an ACL tear, there is no doubt about Henry’s potential when he is healthy.
Coming off a 2019 season in which he hauled in 55 passes for 652 yards, Hunter Henry is hitting the free agent market at just the right time.
Not only is he coming off a career year, but a team like the New England Patriots are tight end hungry and wouldn’t it be the perfect marriage between a pass-catching tight end like Henry and a team that has historically featured the tight end behind the arm of Tom Brady.
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Prior to signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, veteran tight end Greg Olsen mentioned he was a third in line when it came to the Patriots’ interest. He mentioned the team will try to pry Rob Gronkowski out of retirement as one option, which means they have their sights on another prize at the tight end position.
Unless Bill Belichick is brewing up one of those trades that come out of nowhere, Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are prime options for the Patriots. Hooper would come a little cheaper, but Henry could reach that full potential in New England and bring Tom Brady joy at the same time.
But, will his past health issues prevent the team from making a free agency splash to obtain the talented tight end?
Henry, Hooper or someone else?
Either Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper would be a major upgrade at the position. If the New England Patriots go after Henry and lose out, Hooper is not a bad consolation prize at the position and like Henry can flourish in a Patriots system that has historically featured the tight end.
Either of those players being attracted to coming to New England will of course depend on whether Tom Brady is there or not. If he is not, the replacement can play a role as well.
If it is Philip Rivers, Hunter Henry may have interest playing with his former teammate. That scenario could also give the Patriots more cap space to work with as one would think Rivers would come a little cheaper than Brady.
Then again, Brady may possible do one of those home discounts deals if he knows Bill Belichick has a plan to surround him with weapons. Bringing in a stud receiver and a tight end talent like Henry would accomplish that.
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And if not Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper, players like Eric Ebron, Tyler Eifert and former Patriots tight end Jacob Hollister are out there.
Except for Eifert, all these players are 26 or under and will help the New England Patriots upgrade the position as well as get younger overall as a team. As far as finding that production left void by Rob Gronkowski, Hunter Henry is the best option as far as potential, but he won’t come cheap.