Hunter Henry is the first tight end on the depth chart. Then who?
The tight end position for the Chargers revolved around Antonio Gates for more than a decade. But the curve was shifted last year as it marked the first season without the future Hall of Famer on the roster.
Hunter Henry has done a fine job to fill his shoes, but outside of him, the production has been nearly nonexistent. Could that change this upcoming season?
Below, I take a crack at predicting Los Angeles’ depth chart at tight end for the 2020 season:
TE1: Hunter Henry
This comes as no surprise. Henry, the former second-round pick, has been a valuable asset in both the passing and run-blocking department. The former Arkansas product has yet to play a full 16-game slate in each of his four seasons, all due to injury. However, he’s posting a career average of 8.9 yards per catch, which has been in the top-10 in three out of the past four seasons. Despite the change at quarterback, Henry should still be a matchup nightmare on short crossing and deeper routes. Look for him to be a valuable weapon in the red zone, too. If he can stay healthy, Henry could finish as a top-5 tight end.
TE2: Virgil Green
Green was signed in the offseason of 2018. In his first season as a Charger, Green had the opportunity to play a significant role after Henry went down with a season-ending injury. But he still didn’t manage to outperform Gates, the insurance signee, finishing with only 210 yards and one touchdown on 19 receptions. Last season, Green’s usage and production slipped upon Henry returning. He amassed nine catches for 78 yards and a score. Heading into this season, Green will likely average 25% of the offense’s snaps per game, primarily serving as an additional blocker.
TE3: Donald Parham
This is where the competition begins. Normally this would likely be filled by Sean Culkin, but he’s no longer on the roster. Fighting for the final spot will be Parham, Stephen Anderson and Andrew Vollert. Vollert was in training camp with the Chargers last season before he tore his ACL during preseason game. Anderson was kept around on the team’s practice squad in 2019. Parham was signed earlier this offseason after showing out in the XFL, where he caught 24 passes for 307 yards and four TDs in five games. The 6-foot-8 and 240 pound tight end gets the nod here. While he is a liability as a blocker, Parham brings an enticing skillset as a pass-catcher. With his freakish combination of size and speed, Parham could be a mismatch weapon as a hybrid slot, where he could flourish down the seam and in the red zone.
