5 Patriots Still on Thin Ice After Surviving the Trade Deadline

4. Hunter Henry

What is going on with Hunter Henry?

The veteran tight end started the year off hot, turning 11 catches into 108 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns through the Patriots' first two games. He's fallen short of that pace more often than not since then, tallying 130 yards without a TD on 12 receptions in the last six games.

For reference, Henry's latest six outings put him on pace for 34 catches and 368 yards in a 17-game campaign — both of which would be career worsts for the ex-Arkansas product.

His performance has been nothing short of disappointing, to say the least. This is the same player who racked up over 1,100 yards and 11 TDs in his first two seasons with the Pats.

Henry's opportunities are in jeopardy if growing smaller. Pharaoh Brown, who started the season on the practice squad, is gaining more playing time with each passing game, playing 40% of offensive snaps in Week 8. There's also Mike Gesicki, whose 76.0% catch rate cements him as one of Jones' most reliable targets this year.

With all three TEs becoming free agents in March, the pressure is on for Henry to separate himself from the pack. If not, the Pats might be more inclined to run it back with Gesicki and/or Brown in 2024.

Regardless of how you slice it, Henry hasn't been playing up to his $15.5 million cap hit. Whether he wants to stay in New England or get paid similarly elsewhere, a stronger second-half showing is crucial.