{"id":104593,"date":"2021-02-21T08:06:56","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T13:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=104593"},"modified":"2021-02-21T11:03:06","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T16:03:06","slug":"hunter-henry-free-agent-team-fits-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/02\/21\/hunter-henry-free-agent-team-fits-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunter Henry Free Agent Team Fits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tight end is one of the hardest positions to play in the NFL, and finding an above-average receiving threat at the position is one of the most difficult parts of the team-building process. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HenrHu00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hunter Henry<\/a> has that skillset and the free agent will certainly garner plenty of interest on the open market. Plenty of teams will want to sign him, but which organizations have the resources to bring in the talented tight end?<\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;5044&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>2021 Free Agent Team Fits: Hunter Henry<\/h2>\n<h4>Cincinnati Bengals<\/h4>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/bengals\" target=\"_self\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> have their quarterback of the future in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BurrJo01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Burrow<\/a>. Now, they just need to surround him with the necessary talent to succeed. Fixing the offensive line should be <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/02\/19\/cincinnati-bengals-off-season-plans-joe-burrow\/\" target=\"_self\">Cincinnati\u2019s top offseason priority<\/a>, but they should also think about adding a few more receiving weapons. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HiggTe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tee Higgins<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BoydTy00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyler Boyd<\/a> are both great players, but adding someone like Henry would make this offense very hard to defend. Armed with $37.6 million in available spending, the Bengals should be able to address multiple offensive issues in the coming months.<\/p>\n<h4>Jacksonville Jaguars<\/h4>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/jaguars\" target=\"_self\">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> were the worst team in the NFL last year, but they\u2019re in great position for an overnight rebuild. Trevor Lawrence is one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory and will be a great selling point for any incoming free agent. Of course, having $77.5 million in available cap space won\u2019t hurt, as Jacksonville has the ability to outbid every other team in the league. The Jaguars need help just about everywhere, and nothing is more helpful for a rookie quarterback than a reliable tight end that can catch just about anything thrown in his direction.<\/p>\n<h4>New York Jets<\/h4>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DarnSa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Darnold<\/a>, Zach Wilson, or Justin Fields under center in 2021, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/jets\" target=\"_self\">New York Jets<\/a> will need to do something to help out their young passer. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HernCh00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Herndon<\/a> hasn\u2019t done much of anything since his late 2018 breakout, and the receiving duo of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MimsDe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Denzel Mims<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CrowJa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jamison Crowder<\/a> leave a lot to be desired. Much like the Jaguars, the Jets have a lot of holes on offense and a lot of cap space to use on these needs. Hunter Henry would immediately be the most reliable weapon in the offense and provides a safe floor for the skill position players if Denzel Mims doesn\u2019t take a second-year leap. If he does, then this offense has the potential to be a pretty solid unit.<\/p>\n<h4>New England Patriots<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/A\/AsiaDe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Devin Asiasi<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/K\/KeenDa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dalton Keene<\/a> are both young players, so there is a chance that these tight ends improve with more time in the NFL. However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/patriots\" target=\"_self\">New England Patriots<\/a> shouldn\u2019t bank on that possibility. New England had arguably the worst supporting cast in the league last year, and trying to watch this passing offense could be painful at times. Tight end is a very important position in New England\u2019s offense, and head coach Bill Belichick has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.milforddailynews.com\/story\/sports\/2020\/12\/03\/patriots-coach-bill-belichick-has-long-admired-chargers-tight-end-hunter-henry\/3810888001\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">publicly noted<\/a> his enjoyment on Hunter Henry\u2019s game. He\u2019s no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GronRo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rob Gronkowski<\/a>, but signing Hunter Henry would give New England a respectable tight end room for the first time since the big tight end\u2019s retirement.<\/p>\n<h4>Carolina Panthers<\/h4>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/panthers\/\" target=\"_self\">Carolina Panthers<\/a> quietly have one of the better receiving duos in the NFL with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=MoorD.00,MoorDJ99&amp;search=D.J.+Moore&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">D.J. Moore<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/A\/AndeRo04.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Robby Anderson<\/a>. However, they lack a legitimate weapon at tight end. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/T\/ThomIa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ian Thomas<\/a> couldn\u2019t fill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/O\/OlseGr00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Greg Olsen<\/a>\u2019s shoes, finishing the year with just 20 receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Matt Rhule clearly wants to upgrade the offensive pieces for whichever quarterback ends up starting next year, and Hunter Henry would be a fantastic complimentary piece in an offense that needs to keep up with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BradTo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tom Brady<\/a> and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<\/p>\n<p>Main photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"2gf8T4TXSLxBBZNrK0bBnw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1291868407\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'2gf8T4TXSLxBBZNrK0bBnw',sig:'B-StCdaGEWrPnJ7QvIkvTnoq6FL9Vg5qUdCjkBdvf74=',w:'594px',h:'395px',items:'1291868407',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five Hunter Henry Free Agent Team Fits: Which teams are most likely to land the talented pass-catching tight end on the open market?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2376,"featured_media":104594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6431,30,7,54,13,5,6],"tags":[7546,7343,796,7372,7377,7311,7287,1608],"class_list":["post-104593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-teams","category-panthers","category-bengals","category-editorials","category-jaguars","category-patriots","category-jets","tag-carolina-panthers-roster","tag-cincinnati-bengals-roster","tag-hunter-henry","tag-jacksonville-jaguars-roster","tag-los-angeles-chargers-roster","tag-new-england-patriots-roster","tag-new-york-jets-roster","tag-nfl-free-agency"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2376"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104593\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}