{"id":100001,"date":"2020-12-18T20:12:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-19T01:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=100001"},"modified":"2021-05-30T20:48:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T00:48:12","slug":"new-england-patriots-signings-hunter-henry-should-be-top-priority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/12\/18\/new-england-patriots-signings-hunter-henry-should-be-top-priority\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots Signings: Hunter Henry Should Be Top Priority"},"content":{"rendered":"

With just three games remaining, the <\/span>New England Patriots<\/a> will be lucky to finish this season with a winning record. The Patriots have numerous holes on their roster, all of which have been on full display this season without <\/span>Tom Brady<\/a><\/b> to cover them up. Perhaps the most obvious of these holes is New England\u2019s lack of offensive weapons. The Patriots passing attack ranks <\/span>29th<\/span><\/a> in the league, ahead of only the <\/span>New York Giants<\/a>, <\/span>Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, and <\/span>New York Jets<\/a>. Furthermore, the Patriots’ leading receiver, <\/span>Damiere Byrd<\/a><\/b>, ranks <\/span>56th<\/span><\/a> in the league with only 566 receiving yards this season. For reference, a 35-year-old <\/span>Danny Amendola<\/a><\/b> ranks <\/span>57th<\/span><\/a> in the league with 539 receiving yards. However, while the lack of elite talent within the receiving core is a big problem, the Patriots’ lack of talent at the tight end position is somehow a bigger problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite being placed on injured reserve in week 14, <\/span>Ryan Izzo<\/a><\/b> leads New England\u2019s tight end group with 199 receiving yards, a total that ranks <\/span>39th<\/span><\/a> among tight ends throughout the league. Additionally, rookie tight end <\/span>Devin Asiasi<\/a><\/b> has played in just six games this season and has recorded no receptions. Moreover, fellow rookie tight end <\/span>Dalton Keene<\/a><\/b> has played in just three games while recording one catch for eight yards. While it is still early for the pair of rookies, the Patriots desperately need to add talent at tight end this off-season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New England Patriots Signings: Hunter Henry Should Be Top Priority\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hunter Henry <\/b><\/a>(6’5″, 250 pounds): Henry is far and away the best available free-agent tight end. Aside from a 2018 season in which Henry did not play due to a torn ACL, he has never played in fewer than 12 games. Furthermore, at just 26 years old, Henry is entering his prime and should have several years of elite football left to play. Since being drafted by the <\/span>Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> in 2016 out of Arkansas, Henry has been among the most athletic at his position. Henry demonstrates elite body control when running routes and catching the football as he understands how to maneuver his body in order to create separation and maximize an already huge catch radius. Additionally, Henry\u2019s football IQ frequently shows up in his route running as he easily recognizes where to settle when facing zone coverage. Moreover, Henry\u2019s above-average blocking makes him one of the most complete tight ends within the NFL and one of <\/span>Bill Belichick<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s favorites. Following New England\u2019s win over the Chargers in week 13, Belichick made a very clear effort to talk to Henry during the on-field post-game handshakes. Belichick was shown on television hugging Henry and walking with him for several seconds before leaving the field. It is no secret that Belichick loves Henry as the coach has followed Henry\u2019s career since his high school days. According to Spotrac\u2019s <\/span>market value predictor<\/span><\/a>, Henry\u2019s contract should come in somewhere around $36 million over four years. This would put Henry\u2019s salary around $9 million per year, a number which New England could easily afford this off-season. However, with tight ends in high demand throughout the league along with New England\u2019s lack of clear plan at quarterback, Belichick will likely need to overpay if he hopes to land Henry this spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

Signing Henry certainly does not fix all of New England\u2019s issues, but it would be an extremely good first step to fixing their offense. Just as the Patriots once broke the bank on the first day of free agency by signing Stephon Gilmore<\/a>,<\/strong> it feels as though Henry could be in a similar situation. I would not all be surprised to see New England pursue Henry and pursue him hard this spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

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