New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Why the Patriots are retaining tight end Hunter Henry

By Pierce Downey | Last updated 3/8/24

The New England Patriots agreed with tight end Hunter Henry on a three-year, $27M base deal with a max value of $30M, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Friday.

Henry was slated to hit the open market when free agency opens next week, but the Patriots gave the 2023 team captain an excellent offer he could not refuse.

Here's why the Patriots are bringing back Henry:

He is invaluable on and off the field: In three seasons with the Patriots, Henry has 133 catches for 1,531 yards and 17 TD catches — good figures on a team that has struggled offensively recently.

In addition to being a solid player, Henry is a strong leader and locker-room voice — that's partly why the team named him captain after being with the Patriots for a relatively short time.

With the Patriots in transition after parting with longtime head coach Bill Belichick and 13-year team captain Matthew Slater retiring in February, the retention of Henry is a major victory for the team. New England keeps a talented player and an important leader at a time when team chemistry seems at a low point.

Mac Jones connects with Hunter Henry!@Patriots regain the lead. #ForeverNE

: #DALvsNE on CBS
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/9qDMd6qiLi
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021

If not Henry, who else? Re-signing Henry also makes sense because there are few sensible outside alternatives at the position.

Standout Texans TE Dalton Schultz could have been an option for New England, but he re-upped for three years with Houston on Tuesday, leaving 32-year-old Logan Thomas as the next-best projected free-agent option.

Because the Patriots probably will use their first-round pick on a QB, receiver or offensive tackle, the chances of securing a great tight end in the second or third days of the NFL Draft seem slim.

The Patriots avoided creating a potentially unfixable hole on their 2024 offense by not letting Henry get away.

Provides stability for a new quarterback: In all likelihood, a rookie QB will take the reins as the starter in 2024. Henry's aforementioned leadership qualities will be useful in guiding the young QB while he inevitably faces struggles.

If the Patriots unexpectedly sign an experienced free-agent QB such as Baker Mayfield, Henry will serve an important role by acclimating the signee to the rest of the offensive players and coaches.

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