Pats may target Chargers’ Henry
Los Angeles TE to be free agent
The Patriots are going to have considerable cash to spend next year in order to revamp and revitalize the team.
Given all the holes to fill, be it wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, pass rusher and so on, their projected cap space figure of $69 million, currently fourth most in the league, should come in handy.
Their success or failure in free agency will go a long way towards building around the next quarterback, be it Cam Newton in the short term if he’s re-signed, another veteran brought in as the bridge quarterback, or ultimately, a quarterback taken in the draft.
So along with getting through the 2020 season, it’s a sure bet the Patriots are taking notes on the list of prospective 2021 free agents.
With that in mind, keep an eye on Hunter Henry.
The Patriots will have to defend the Chargers tight end Sunday, and he could very well be on Bill Belichick’s radar down the road.
Henry is among the notable free agents next year at a huge position of need.
The tight end is currently playing on the franchise tag, which is a little over $11 million, given his importance to the Chargers offense.
But will the Bolts go that route again, especially with star edge rusher Melvin Ingram also with an expiring contract, and needing to be paid?
Let’s just say the Patriots will be paying close attention.
Actually, it’s possible for Henry and or Ingram or both to be free agent targets for the Patriots next year, depending on who is available. As mentioned, both tight end and pass rusher are high on the list of positions the Patriots need to upgrade.
But let’s start with Henry. From the Patriots end, it’s pretty obvious they’ve had their eyes on him for a while, or have been aware of his exploits dating back to high school. Belichick indicated he has followed Kevin Kelley, Henry’s high school coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is a huge fan of the coach, calling him the “top high school coach in the country.”
By extension, Belichick has been a fan of Henry, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end, who was a 2016 second round pick of the Chargers.
“Henry continues to be a complete and very good football player for them,” Belichick said during his video conference Wednesday. “Henry’s really been a great player. I’ve watched him, pretty much, his whole career.”
To illustrate the point, Belichick ripped off Henry’s football resume going from Pulaski Academy, to Arkansas, to the Chargers.
He then touted Henry’s ability “to block, catch . . . run a variety of routes,” and be a consistently productive player for the Bolts.
The Patriots could use a top-flight tight end with that description. They’re desperate for one.
Even drafting a couple of tight ends in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft with UCLA’s Devin Asiasi, and Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene, who have barely been used when healthy, the Patriots have come up woefully short at the position.
Second-year player Ryan Izzo has gamely taken on the role as the be-all-end-all tight end, and done his best, but that still hasn’t provided anywhere near the impact needed from a tight end in Patriots offense, not to mention the 2020 NFL.
They need someone who is more than a token blocker.
Henry, who has 48 catches for 502 yards and three touchdowns this year, would be an upgrade, and then some. His rookie year, he caught 8 touchdown passes. Last year, playing in 12 games, he had 55 catches for 652 yards, with 5 scores.
His catch rate of 72.4% last season was one of the highest marks of any starting tight end in the NFL. And right now, he’s on pace to top those numbers.
Kelley, reached Wednesday by the Herald, wouldn’t mind seeing Henry change uniform colors if it comes to that.
“I think he could fit anywhere because the kind of person he is. A kid that grew up in Arkansas, doesn’t fit in LA, you know, and he’s such a nice guy,” said Kelley, “And here’s an example: Thanksgiving morning he sends me a text; ‘Coach, Happy Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t be where I am without you.’
“Just the fact that he thought of that,” Kelley went on, “that tells you what kind of person he is.”
Belichick has brought in two other players from Pulaski High, wide receiver Will Hastings and offensive lineman Jason King.
Given Belichick’s connection and fascination with Kelley, Henry is certainly someone to keep an eye on, especially given the need.
As for Ingram, the Patriots won’t see him Sunday because he’s currently on injured reserve with a knee injury.
But, like Henry, he’s due to become a free agent. Working against him is his age (32), but given that, he might come a little cheaper than a younger stud pass rusher experiencing free agency for the first time.
So he’s also someone to watch along with Henry, who would be a great free agent catch.
You never know with Belichick, but given how fondly he speaks of Henry, not to mention his high school coach, maybe it’s not so outlandish to think the Patriots will start by using their excess spending money on a bonafide tight end.