Tag: Hunter Henry

Patriots TE Hunter Henry headlined list of joint practice absences

Hunter Henry remained sidelined for Tuesday’s scrimmage

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry was absent for the second straight practice on Tuesday. Henry headlined the list of absences from the joint training camp practice with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Defensive tackle Christian Barmore and safety Marte Mapu also did not participate. Linebacker Sione Takitaki, offensive lineman Cole Strange and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne are all currently on the physically unable to perform list.

Henry has been a key piece for the Patriots offense during his time in New England. He has tallied 133 catches for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons with the Patriots. He recorded 42 receptions for 419 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

Mayo commented on Henry’s absence, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Keagan Stiefel.

“No updates to give you guys,” Mayo said. “He won’t practice today. When he’s ready to go, he’ll be out there playing. I don’t expect it to be a prolonged absence.”

Henry’s absence is certainly notable with the second preseason game set to take place against the Eagles on Thursday. It’ll be something to monitor heading into the matchup.

Fantasy football outlook: New England Patriots TE Hunter Henry

Could fantasy owners be sleeping on Hunter Henry?

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has displayed just enough production to be drafted as a TE1 on fantasy rosters. But, seven years into his career, he hasn’t shown the consistency to be an every-week starter.

As a rookie with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016, Henry made a splash by scoring eight touchdowns on just 36 receptions. In his next three years, he had two seasons with 55 or more catches, despite missing time in each campaign. His career-best 60 receptions came in 2020, coinciding with his opportunity to hit free agency, where he signed a three-year deal with the Patriots.

Henry’s first season in New England saw him set a career high with nine touchdowns, catching 50 passes for 603 yards. It was his connection with young quarterback Mac Jones that gave the Patriots reason to believe at the time Jones would be the long-term answer.

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That didn’t happen, but Henry is a cornerstone piece of the offense as the team readjusts in the post-Bill Belichick era, and he is being asked once again to assist in the development of another young quarterback (Drake Maye).

New England had the option of moving on from Henry after last season as free agency neared. It isn’t unusual when a franchise in a rebuild sheds itself of some higher priced veteran players – even a team captain, like Henry. The Patriots did just the opposite, re-signing him to a three-year deal to keep him in New England.

The Patriots don’t have a lot of dynamic receiving options, so having Henry as a leader on the offense will be critical in the transition of the franchise.

Fantasy football outlook

It would appear Henry’s career is going to be defined as being the security blanket for young quarterbacks. In 2020, when he had the most receptions of his career (60 in 14 games), Henry was one of the go-to targets for rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. His last three seasons in New England were marked by him being a primary target for Jones.

While veteran Jacoby Brissett certainly could open the year at QB1, as the Patriots move into the Maye era, Henry is again front and center in the offensive plans. Tight ends routinely run shorter routes and settle in to soft spots in zones, giving a young QB a good target to deliver passes. Should Brissett linger in the lineup, he has a documented history as a game manager.

The other concern anyone considering drafting Henry should have is that he has a penchant for injury. He has missed multiple games in four of the last six seasons, so anyone who ends up with Henry on a fantasy roster does so with a realistic expectation that he will miss time.

Henry has consistently shown he can be expected to have about 50 receptions for 500-600 yards and four to five touchdowns – decent numbers, but not elite ones. He’s a grinder, who ideally is a No. 2 in tight end-mandatory leagues. With a growing number of athletic young TEs coming into the league, players like Henry will slide down in rankings, because he’s a proven commodity with a known ceiling. He will end up on fantasy rosters, but it won’t be to be a weekly starter.

Patriots players, including rookies, reveal biggest pet peeves

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

What is your biggest pet peeve?

It’s a great question because everyone has them. Whether it’s seeing people chew food with their mouths open or that one person calling instead of texting for the simplest thing. There’s some quirk capable of drawing an involuntary stink eye out of all of us.

But what about New England Patriots players? What are some of their biggest pet peeves?

The Patriots’ social media team caught up with players during organized team activities for a fun video of them revealing what behaviors annoyed them the most. It produced some truly hilarious responses.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye said, “When somebody hears you and they still say, ‘What?'”

Meanwhile, Joe Milton’s biggest pet peeve is people that talk too much, while tight end Hunter Henry can’t stand when people behind him on an airplane try to pass him.

The pet peeve for Patriots fans in the last two seasons has been losing football games.

However, there’s hope the team can eventually get that corrected with first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf now leading the charge.

 

2024 NFL Free agency: The most underrated offensive players

2024 NFL Free agency: The most underrated offensive players (via @NFL_DougFarrar):

When the new league year begins at 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 13, the NFL’s legal tampering period will already have gone on for two days, and several top-tier free agents will be off the market… hypothetically, of course.

There are multiple levels to free agency, of course. The big names and best players are generally picked off as quickly as possible, and then, it’s musical chairs for the best of the rest — and this where smart teams will have their eyes on the ideal value guys who can come in without a great deal of fanfare and solidify positions of need.

These are the players we’re choosing to focus on here. These players are not at the top of most free-agent list for the 2024 league year, but make no mistake — they can be key contributors to any team they’re on.

We’ll begin with the most underrated impending free agents on offense.

More details on TE Hunter Henry’s contract released

Breaking down TE Hunter Henry’s new deal with the Patriots

The New England Patriots signed tight end Hunter Henry to a three-year deal on Friday. The contract figures were made available, as reported by the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Henry will receive a $27 million base salary, with a $30 million max value and $16 million fully guaranteed.

Henry has been a consistent presence in the Patriots’ passing game over the last three seasons. He was productive last season, despite inconsistencies in the passing game overall. He tallied 42 catches for 419 yards and six touchdowns.

The touchdowns were his most since the 2021 season, when he joined the Patriots as a free agent.

The Patriots had zero tight ends under contract prior to Henry signing. This move gives them a guaranteed playmaker at a position that has been crucial for the offense over the years.

Report: Patriots finalizing contract extension for TE Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry is staying in New England

The New England Patriots are reportedly finalizing a contract extension for veteran tight end Hunter Henry. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported the news on Friday morning.

Henry led the Patriots in touchdown receptions last season, and he remained a reliable target for the revolving door of quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. He was also named a captain for the first time with the team.

Uncertainty loomed for the Patriots at the tight end position with Henry, Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown all on expiring contracts. There was even more concern after a recent report said the Patriots and Henry were “far apart” in contract talks.

They’ve obviously bridged that gap in short order to keep one of the few offensive playmakers they had in 2023.

Henry turns 30 years old this year, but he still has plenty left in the tank to contribute on offense. The Patriots still need to get younger at the tight end position.

They could look to add to the position in the draft, while having Henry serve in the veteran bridge role.

Report: Patriots and TE Hunter Henry remain ‘far apart’ in contract talks

Hunter Henry is reportedly likely to hit the free agent market

The New England Patriots would like to bring back pending free agent tight end Hunter Henry on a new deal, according to a report from MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Chris Mason and Karen Guregian. However, there seems to be a bit of a gap in extension talks.

The Patriots are working behind the scenes to keep Henry in New England, but according to MassLive’s report, the tight end will likely hit free agency with the two sides still being “far apart” on agreeing to a deal.

MassLive wrote:

While the Patriots would like to bring Hunter Henry back, the tight end is likely to hit free agency. The two sides are far apart on an extension.

Henry has been productive during his time with New England. He caught 133 passes for 1,531 yards and 70 touchdowns in three seasons. He helped revitalize a tight end room that was looking for production prior to his arrival.

His best season with New England came in 2021, when he caught 50 passes for 603 yards and nine touchdowns. He was perhaps the most productive player from the 2021 free agent class that saw New England spend $163 million in guaranteed money.

The Patriots would undoubtedly lose a key producer and former team captain, if Henry walks. Regardless, it’ll be a tough offseason with more than just the tight end position to worry about.

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7 free agent tight ends Giants could target to replace Darren Waller

If Darren Waller opts to retire, here are seven free agent tight ends the New York Giants could target as a replacement option.

One year after acquiring tight end Darren Waller via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Giants may be forced into replacing him.

Waller told the New York Post on Friday that he’s “still undecided” about his future and could opt to retire.

“I have not made a decision either way,” Waller told the Post.

If Waller does return in 2024, he will be owed a base salary of $10.5 million which accounts for a cap hit of $14 million. If he opts to retire, the Giants will clear $6.2 million in cap space but be left with a dead cap hit of roughly $7.9 million.

Because of Waller’s transparency with the Giants, they have already begun to pour over the names slated to become available in free agency.

With Waller’s future uncertain and a need at the position beyond just 2024, here’s a look at seven free agent tight ends the Giants could consider.

Projected market value for Patriots’ top pending free agents

The Patriots have multiple in-house free agents they might want to re-sign. Here’s what it could cost them.

Big decisions loom on the horizon for the New England Patriots heading into free agency.

They’re sitting pretty right now with roughly over $100 million in available salary cap space, but they are also a team bogged down with various holes and upgrade needs on their roster.

Free agency isn’t just about paying big money to load up on outside talent. It’s also about keeping the talent you already have to ensure some continuity. Not everything was bad with the 4-13 Patriots, and this isn’t a situation where the organization is looking to throw the entire team away.

There were pieces that stood out as potential parts of an eventual solution in New England. and it now falls on Patriots executive Eliot Wolf and the front office to figure out ways to keep those pieces intact.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Patriots’ top free agents and their projected market values, according to PFF.com and Spotrac.com.

25 best free agent targets for the Patriots in 2024

Here are the 25 best free agent options for the Patriots

The New England Patriots are expected to be aggressive in free agency this offseason in an effort to fill multiple holes on their roster.

It’s no secret that the onus for the 4-13 finish in 2023 falls predominantly on the offensive struggles. There’s a need to fill at every offensive position for New England, most notably at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle.

However, don’t think for one second that the defense will go ignored. That unit was one of the best in the NFL last season, and it kept the team in games that would have otherwise turned into blowouts.

If the Patriots hope to remain competitive in 2024, they’ll need to continue adding defensive playmakers to keep games close. In no particular order, here are the 25 best potential free agent targets for the Patriots: