{"id":80634,"date":"2020-02-10T06:44:03","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T11:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=80634"},"modified":"2020-02-10T06:44:03","modified_gmt":"2020-02-10T11:44:03","slug":"hunter-henry-free-agent-team-fits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/02\/10\/hunter-henry-free-agent-team-fits\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunter Henry Free Agent Team Fits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Free agency is roughly one month away, and <strong><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><\/strong> figures to be one of the best tight ends on the open market. The longtime Los Angeles Charger has proven to be one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league when healthy, although he sometimes struggles to stay on the field. Despite the injury concerns, Henry should be a popular name if and when he reaches the open market.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2020 Free Agency: <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> Free Agent Team Fits<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>New England Patriots<\/h3>\n<p>The Patriots had arguably the worst group of tight ends in the league last year. After missing on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CookJa02.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jared Cook<\/a><\/strong> in free agency, New England never found a true replacement for <strong><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><\/strong>. The Patriots entered the year with the trio of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LaCoMa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matt LaCosse<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/I\/IzzoRy00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Izzo<\/a>, <\/strong>and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WatsBe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ben Watson<\/a><\/strong>. These three weren\u2019t able to carry their respective weight, and the lack of options at tight end played a big role in New England\u2019s offensive regression. If the Patriots sign Henry, they\u2019ll be making life infinitely better for <strong><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><\/strong> or whoever lines up under center in 2020.<\/p>\n<h3>Indianapolis Colts<\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/E\/EbroEr00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Ebron<\/a><\/strong> is a free agent and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DoylJa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Doyle<\/a><\/strong> just can\u2019t stay on the field. Ebron was a revelation in 2018, but he wasn\u2019t able to recapture the magic in 2019. The Colts have one of the stronger all-around rosters in the league, but they need to upgrade the receiving options for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BrisJa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jacoby Brissett<\/a><\/strong> or whoever ends up starting next year. Armed with a near-infinite amount of cap space, they should be able to sign Henry while still upgrading at quarterback and improving the rest of the roster.<\/p>\n<h3>Los Angeles Chargers<\/h3>\n<p>The Los Angeles Chargers are probably entering a rebuild with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RivePh00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philip Rivers<\/a><\/strong> moving on to greener pastures. However, that doesn\u2019t mean that the Chargers have to rebuild without Hunter Henry. Entering his age-26 season, Henry should have plenty of good football left in his tank and can be a core piece of the offense moving forward. Tight ends can often be safety blankets for young quarterbacks, and Henry is one of the best receiving tight ends in the league.<\/p>\n<h3>Miami Dolphins<\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GesiMi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Gesicki<\/a> <\/strong>showed plenty of promise during the 2019 season, but he could use some company. The Dolphins have holes all across their roster, including one of the worst offensive lines in football. It\u2019s impossible to completely recreate an offensive line in one season, and the best way to minimize offensive line woes is to stack up on receiving weapons. Henry could join a surprisingly solid group of receivers highlighted by Gesicki, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/ParkDe01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DeVante Parker<\/a><\/strong>, and rookie phenomenon <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WillPr01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Preston Williams<\/a><\/strong>. The Dolphins are destined to add a young quarterback in the NFL Draft, and their top priority should be maximizing said rookie\u2019s opportunity for success.<\/p>\n<h3>Green Bay Packers<\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RodgAa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> is still a good quarterback, but he needs more help than he used to. Outside of\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/A\/AdamDa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Davante Adams<\/a><\/strong>, the star quarterback doesn&#8217;t have a reliable option in the passing game.\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/V\/ValdMa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marquez Valdes-Scantling<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/A\/AlliGe01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Geronimo Allison<\/strong><\/a> couldn&#8217;t capitalize on their opportunities, and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GrahJi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jimmy Graham<\/a><\/strong> looks old and washed. Adding a guy like Henry could take the offense back to an elite level and put the Packers back in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Honorable Mentions<\/strong><\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buffalo Bills<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/jets\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Jets<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Main photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"oucmHnavSVVUB51lCIyhTQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1190110874\" 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:'oucmHnavSVVUB51lCIyhTQ',sig:'4LlnY2J3VMBPOHX4t3KSw9WBSms8a7-hjRVhAmD5vZA=',w:'594px',h:'405px',items:'1190110874',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>Los Angeles Chargers free agent tight end Hunter Henry should be in high demand once free agency officially begins in March<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2376,"featured_media":80580,"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":[18,3,25,12,4,5,6],"tags":[275,61,44,796,56,1500,1501,89,3605,38,40,1608,362,331],"class_list":["post-80634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chargers","category-bills","category-packers","category-colts","category-dolphins","category-patriots","category-jets","tag-aaron-rodgers","tag-football","tag-green-bay-packers","tag-hunter-henry","tag-indianapolis-colts","tag-jacoby-brissett","tag-los-angeles-chargers","tag-miami-dolphins","tag-mike-gesicki","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-free-agency","tag-philip-rivers","tag-tom-brady"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80634","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=80634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}