Tight end Hunter Henry has signed a three-year deal with the New England Patriots worth $37.5 million. The deal will keep Henry with the team through 2023. Henry has spent all five years of his career so far with the Los Angeles Chargers.
And New England strikes again: The Patriots are signing former Chargers' TE Hunter Henry to a three-year, $37.5 million deal, including $25 million guaranteed, per source.
Free agency's top two tight ends, Henry and Jonnu Smith, wind up in New England.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2021
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots, Agree to Contract
Hunter Henry’s 2020 season was not that dissimilar from his 2019 season in terms of numbers, as he pulled in 60 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns. One big plus was that he avoided injury for the first time in years, although he did end up stuck on the COVID-19 reserve list for the final two games of the season.
Henry played football in college with the University of Arkansas and was voted All-SEC for all three years of his tenure there. He also went All-American in 2015. He was drafted by the Chargers early in the second round of 2016. Henry ended up splitting time with Antonio Gates for his rookie season but managed to have 478 receiving yards and eight touchdowns despite that, the latter of which remains a career-high. He finished with the fifth-most touchdowns by a rookie tight end in NFL history and was also voted to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Henry gradually became the go-to tight end for the Chargers in 2017 as the aging Gates started becoming less involved in the offense. He was going to take on that role uncontested in 2018 when the Chargers didn’t re-sign Gates, but then Henry tore his ACL early in OTAs, forcing the Chargers to bring back Gates for one more season.
Henry had a strong return in 2019 as despite missing four more games due to a separate injury, he finished with 652 yards (which remains a career-high) and five touchdowns, helping to fully establish him as a higher-tier (though not elite) tight end in the league.
Thus far in his career, Henry has 196 receptions for 2,322 yards and 21 touchdowns.
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