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Hunter Henry

Free-agent-to-be hasn't stood out yet

There are a lot of big names at wide receiver hitting free agency; not as many at the tight end position. Maybe the biggest one is the Chargers' Hunter Henry. The former second-rounder is 26 years old, and comes off a career-high in receptions (60). He'll definitely have a market.

In an interview, Henry says one of his deciding factors if he signs with a new team will be playing with a good quarterback. He's been pretty lucky in that regard to this point, working with Philip Rivers for three seasons and Justin Herbert last year.

What's interesting is that despite being an early draft selection and working in a pass-first offense with quality quarterbacks throughout his career, Henry hasn't really knocked it out of the park. He caught 8 touchdowns as a rookie, but just 4-5 in each of his other three seasons. He's averaged 581 receiving yards -- decent, but not spectacular. Just once, in 2019, did he put up a top-10 fantasy season (PPR scoring) at his position.

Table shows the top 75 tight end seasons over the past five years. Henry missed the 2018 regular season and an average of 2 games in his other four years, which hasn't helped, but has finished 12th-18th at tight end in all but one of those. A decent player, but not a standout to this point.

TOP 75 TIGHT ENDS, 2016-2020 (PPR)
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsTDPPRRk
2020Travis Kelce, K.C.145105141611314.81
2018Travis Kelce, K.C.150103133610296.61
2020Darren Waller, L.V.14510711969282.62
2018Zach Ertz, Phil.15611611638280.32
2018George Kittle, S.F.1368813775258.73
2019Travis Kelce, K.C.1369712296256.31
2017Travis Kelce, K.C.1228310388235.51
2017Rob Gronkowski, N.E.1056910848227.42
2018Eric Ebron, Ind.1106675014224.24
2019Darren Waller, Oak.1179011453223.02
2016Travis Kelce, K.C.1178511254223.01
2019George Kittle, S.F.1078510535222.53
2019Zach Ertz, Phil.135889166217.64
2019Mark Andrews, Balt.986485210209.25
2016Kyle Rudolph, Min.132838407209.02
2016Greg Olsen, Car.1298010733207.33
2017Zach Ertz, Phil.110748248204.43
2018Jared Cook, Oak.101688966193.65
2016Jimmy Graham, Sea.95659236193.34
2019Austin Hooper, Atl.97757876191.76
2016Delanie Walker, Ten.102658007188.15
2016Zach Ertz, Phil.106788164183.66
2017Delanie Walker, Ten.111748074178.54
2020T.J. Hockenson, Det.101677236177.33
2020Logan Thomas, Was.110726706176.94
2020Robert Tonyan, G.B.595258611176.65
2017Evan Engram, NYG115647226173.65
2017Jack Doyle, Ind.108806904173.06
2017Jimmy Graham, Sea.965752010171.07
2016Cameron Brate, T.B.81576608171.07
2016Dennis Pitta, Balt.121867292170.98
2016Jordan Reed, Was.89666866170.69
2020Mark Andrews, Balt.88587017170.16
2016Martellus Bennett, N.E.73557017168.110
2019Jared Cook, N.O.65437059167.57
2018Austin Hooper, Atl.88716604163.06
2019Tyler Higbee, LAR89697343160.48
2020Mike Gesicki, Mia.85537036159.37
2017Kyle Rudolph, Min.81575328158.28
2016Jason Witten, Dall.95696733154.311
2019Hunter Henry, LAC76556525152.29
2018Kyle Rudolph, Min.82646344151.47
2016Antonio Gates, S.D.93535487149.812
2020Noah Fant, Den.93626733149.38
2020Rob Gronkowski, T.B.77456237149.39
2020Hayden Hurst, Atl.88565716149.110
2018Trey Burton, Chi.76545696149.18
2017Jason Witten, Dall.87635605149.09
2019Dallas Goedert, Phil.87586075148.710
2020Dalton Schultz, Dall.89636154148.511
2016Jack Doyle, Ind.75595845147.413
2020Hunter Henry, LAC93606134145.312
2016Eric Ebron, Det.85617112144.214
2018David Njoku, Cle.88566394143.99
2020Eric Ebron, Pitt.91565585143.813
2020Jimmy Graham, Chi.76504568143.614
2017Cameron Brate, T.B.77485916143.110
2020Evan Engram, NYG10963654214315
2019Jason Witten, Dall.83635294141.911
2020Jonnu Smith, Ten.65414489140.216
2019Mike Gesicki, Mia.89515705138.012
2016Coby Fleener, N.O.81506314137.315
2017Benjamin Watson, Balt.79615224137.211
2016Charles Clay, Buff.87575524136.216
2018Vance McDonald, Pitt.72506104135.010
2017Jared Cook, Oak.86546882134.812
2017Eric Ebron, Det.86535744134.413
2016C.J. Fiedorowicz, Hou.89545594133.917
2018Rob Gronkowski, N.E.72476823133.211
2016Hunter Henry, S.D.53364788131.818
2018Jimmy Graham, G.B.89556362130.612
2016Gary Barnidge, Cle.82556122130.219
2020Jared Cook, N.O.60375047129.417
2020Tyler Higbee, LAR60445215128.218
2017Hunter Henry, LAC62455794126.914

It will be interesting to see where Henry ends up, and maybe his best ball is still ahead of him. But to this point there's been nothing to suggest he's going to step up among the elite players at the position, wherever he signs.

--Andy Richardson

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