The Chargers Just Franchise-Tagged Hunter Henry and Screwed the Patriots
By Michael Luciano
The Los Angeles Chargers faced the prospect of letting budding star tight end Hunter Henry leave in free agency for a team with both a need at the position and the money to make a deal happen.
GM Tom Telesco wasn't about to let one of their best offensive players leave so suddenly.
LA placed the franchise tag on Henry, which guarantees he'll be back with the Chargers for at least one more season.
Sources: The #Chargers have franchise tagged TE Hunter Henry, keeping a key playmaker in the fold for another year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2020
Henry, a former second-round pick out of Arkansas, has established himself as one of the best receiving tight ends in all of football. After missing the entire 2018 regular season with an injury, Henry set new career-highs in catches with 55 and receiving yards with 652, while adding in five touchdown receptions.
Teams like the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears were all in need of a tight end to plug up a gaping hole on the roster, and the tagging of Henry means that there is one less target available on the market.
The Los Angeles Chargers have franchise tagged Hunter Henry per @RapSheet
— PFF (@PFF) March 13, 2020
From 2016-2017, only Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce had a higher PFF receiving grade. pic.twitter.com/Cej6edpbPt
Henry figured to be one of the top free agents on the market at any position, but the controversial franchise tag will keep him in Los Angeles for at least one more season.