Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Re-Sign Hunter Henry: New Challenges Lay Ahead for Pats Offense — BONUS EPISODE

Starting point is 00:00:00 New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is no stranger to new challenges. And for the next three years, he's going to be taking on those challenges right here in Foxborough. Stick around. You're about to be locked into this special edition episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Starting point is 00:00:42 Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful, and thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Remember, Locked On Patriots is not only a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day, but we are also free and available on all platforms, including YouTube. So smash that subscribe button and download and follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts to ensure that you get the latest episode as soon as it's available.

Starting point is 00:01:09 I'm your host, Mike DeBate. I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots Country of Sports Illustrated. Reach out to me. Let me know what's on your mind on X at MDABATENFL. While you're out there showing some love to Lockdown Patriots social media style, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account there as well at LO underscore Patriots. And Pats fans, of course, this special edition of Locked On Patriots is going to be focused on the

Starting point is 00:01:36 news of Friday morning. The Pats kicking off free agency in style by signing tight end Hunter Henry, keeping the team captain in Foxborough for the foreseeable future. Now, the Pats were not willing to take their chances in losing Hunter Henry. Free agency is set to begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13th. We all know that the legal tampering period is set to begin at noontime on Monday. Patriots did not want Hunter to hit the open market, and even though we reported on here a couple of weeks ago that New England and Henry were far

Starting point is 00:02:04 apart on contract extensions, apparently things started to come together over the course of the last couple of days. As a result, he agrees to a three-year deal. NFL Network has since reported that that deal is going to be worth $27 million base salary with a maximum value of $30 million. And once again, Hunter Henry now begins his new challenge in the post Bill Belichick era of being one of the on-field leaders of this team and let's face it a three-year deal the nature of that type of deal definitely shows that New England is once again counting on Hunter Henry to find success while exceeding his own expectations in short the Patriots need Hunter Henry to be an on-field weapon but they also need him to be a mentor to a very young and a potentially developmental offense in 2024 and beyond.

Starting point is 00:02:50 Now, on the field, I think this is a great move for the New England Patriots. Hunter Henry fits the mold of what this team would like to do offensively under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Utilizing pass catchers that can get yards after the catch, but also relying on big targets in the red zone to be able to make things happen. That's where Hunter Henry is at his best, and because of his ability as a route runner, I think he's going to be used more as a pass catcher than he has been in the last couple of seasons. Off the field, Henry's leadership speaks for itself, and I'll get into more of that in just a moment, because in my opinion, this move is equally as important for what Hunter Henry brings to the locker room as to what he brings to the field.

Starting point is 00:03:29 Logistically, New England had to make a move at this position. They were about to enter the league year next week with only LaMichael Pettway on the depth chart. You knew the Patriots were going to be active, and they were active. And by re-signing your top option, you definitely set yourself up for success. Now, what does this mean for fellow free agents Mike Gusecki or Pharoah Brown? We haven't heard too much on the Mike Gusecki camp. That could still heat up over the course of the next couple of days, but I wouldn't look for a deal to get done between the Pats and Mike before next week's deadline. The one to watch here is Pharoah Brown. Mark Daniels of MassLive reported last week that

Starting point is 00:04:03 the Patriots were engaged in the idea of bringing Farrell Brown back, and I like that move as well. Not only was Farrell one of the Patriots' best blockers last year, but he also developed into a pretty good situational big play receiver. They could use that type of explosion. So right now, the Patriots are positioning themselves pretty well when it comes to tight endage. Hi, Claire. I know Claire loves this move. But what does it ultimately mean for Henry? Well, in short, folks, it means yet another challenge to be put on his shoulders.

Starting point is 00:04:30 And fortunately for the Patriots, this is a guy that is well-versed in taking on new challenges. That resolve that has made Hunter Henry a success at the pro level is going to continue to sustain him. And I believe one of the big reasons why the Patriots felt they could not allow him to enter the open market.

Starting point is 00:04:46 And in just a moment, I'm going to discuss some of those challenges and why Hunter is set up to be a good fit for the Pats' plans this season and beyond when this special edition episode of the Locked On Patriots Podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Did you know that even if you have a 401k for retirement, you can still have an IRA? Robinhood has the only IRA that gives you a 3% boost on every dollar you contribute when you subscribe to Robinhood Gold. But get this, now through April 30th, Robinhood is even boosting every single dollar you transfer in from other retirement accounts

Starting point is 00:05:29 with a 3% match. That's right. No cap on the 3% match. Robinhood Gold gets you the most for your retirement thanks to their IRA with a 3% match. This offer is good through April 30th. Get started at Robinhood.com slash boost. Subscription fees apply and now for some legal info. Claim as quarter one 2024 validated by Radius Global Market

Starting point is 00:05:54 Research. Investing involves risk including loss. Limitations apply to IRAs and 401ks. 3% match requires Robinhood Gold for one year from the date of the first 3% match. Must keep Robinhood IRA for five years. The 3% matching on transfers is subject to specific terms and conditions. Robinhood IRA available to U.S. customers in good standing. Robinhood Financial LLC member SIPC is a registered broker-dealer. Lockdown listeners, we've all been there. You want tickets to the big game or your favorite musical artist, and you just can't find an easy and affordable way to get them?

Starting point is 00:06:36 Well, you shouldn't have to worry when you're buying tickets to your next big event, because game time is the fast and easy way to buy tickets for all of the sports, music, comedy, and theater events near you. And here's the part I love most. Game time's all-in prices show your total up front, so you know you're getting a great deal without all those hidden fees. Game time is actually obsessed with finding ways to help you save money on tickets, and that includes their zone deals, where you pick the section and game time picks the seats for an average of 18 savings and the game time guarantee means you'll always

Starting point is 00:07:11 get the best price if you find the tickets in the same section and roll for less game time will credit you 110 of the difference so take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time download the game time app create an account and use the code locked on for twenty dollars off your first purchase terms apply so again create an account and redeem the code locked on l-o-c-k-e-d-o-n for twenty dollars off download game time today last minute, lowest price guaranteed. building what was, and there's no other way to say it, folks, a broken offense in 2023. No matter which way you slice it, it's a challenge. And as I just said a few moments earlier, Hunter Henry is no stranger to challenges. And his mission this year, should he choose to accept it, is no different.

Starting point is 00:08:16 And what makes Hunter Henry the type of player that can rise above the challenge goes all the way back to his early days on a football field. And I'm talking about his days as a high schooler. Hunter attended the prestigious Pulaski Academy, which is in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he played under legendary head coach Kevin Kelly. If you recognize Kelly's name, it's probably from the numerous press conferences that Bill Belichick held throughout the years, praising Kevin for his coaching ability. And one of the guys that he always had his eye on was, in fact, Hunter Henry.

Starting point is 00:08:44 And he was a standout at Pulaski spent the entirety of his four-year tenure playing offensive tackle wide receiver and defensive end but one position conspicuous by its absence is not on that resume and that's the tight end position yeah in fact Hunter Henry didn't even play tight end until he arrived at the University of Arkansas so naturally going into Arkansas and playing tight end was yet another challenge he had to rise above. But his experience as a receiver and a two-way lineman allowed him to cultivate that skill set, that pass-catching ability, that route-running ability, those blocking skills that are required

Starting point is 00:09:20 to become a stalwart at the position. Hunter not only studied them, but he really became quite good at all of them, and once again, accepting a new challenge. It should come as no surprise that he actually became Arkansas' top tight end. In 2015, he won the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in the nation, and he was also a consensus All-American in the 2015-2016 season. Hunter's no stranger to building a winner, either. He helped Arkansas win back-to-back bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in the program's history. In 2014, they beat the

Starting point is 00:09:51 Texas Longhorns. In 2016, they beat the Kansas State Wildcats. So Hunter is heading into the 2016 NFL Draft with an awful lot of pedigree behind him. He ended up being a second round pick by the San Diego Chargers at the time. And for those of you that have watched or listened to Locked On Patriots before, you know at that time I was covering the Chargers. And I remember Hunter Henry coming in as a rookie, bearing the burden of being the first tight end chosen that year. He was not only coming into a positional depth chart where he was expected to make an immediate impact, he's also staring up at one of the greatest tight ends to ever put on shoulder

Starting point is 00:10:25 pads, Antonio Gates. And while Hunter had all the respect for Antonio in the world, he didn't have delusions that he was going to immediately leapfrog the future Hall of Famer at the position. He learned his craft, understood the fact that he needed to be able to follow before he could lead, and because of that, he made a pretty good mark on the team. During his time with the Chargers, both with San Diego, and then after their move to Los Angeles, Henry compiled 196 career receptions for 2,322 yards and 21 touchdowns. And guess what? In the process, he rose to another challenge, and that was something that everyone expected him to do all along when he was drafted,

Starting point is 00:11:00 surpass Antonio Gates on the Chargers depth chart. Just as he was starting to become beloved in Los Angeles, Hunter Henry switched coasts and joined the New England Patriots, signing as a free agent in 2021. And from the time that he walked through the door here in Foxborough, he quickly became a fan favorite. I know a lot of people are going to point to the fact that since he's been here, the Patriots offense has struggled a lot more than it succeeded. But in my humble opinion, you can't blame Hunter Henry for that he's certainly done his part 133 catches for 1531 yards 17 touchdowns almost immediately became a favorite target of quarterback Mac Jones and for

Starting point is 00:11:37 the few starts that he made last year Bailey Zappi zeroed in an awful lot on Hunter Henry as well he has the ability to get open. He's a solid route runner, and again, someone that can understand what a quarterback is thinking and what they need to do. If you're going to judge him purely on last season, don't forget he did miss three games at the end of the year due to a knee injury, but he led all tight ends with 42 catches and 419 yards, and led the team with six touchdown catches. Keep in mind, this was an anemic offense to finish near the bottom of the barrel in almost every major metric. There weren't many offensive standouts in New England last season. Hunter continued to be one of them, and that's because no matter what

Starting point is 00:12:16 offense you're going to employ, you need a solid traditional wide tight end, someone that can accentuate his route running skills, but also showcase an ability to box out. He's proven himself to be a better blocker than he gets credit for, and definitely a reliable pass catcher with shorthand. So it's no surprise that he's a favorite of most quarterbacks he's played with, and it really isn't a surprise that the Patriots would want to bring him back. But you can't in good faith talk about Hunter Henry without talking about his health. That's been a knock on him in the past, especially during his time with the Chargers. But since he's come in here to New England, he's been one of their most durable players. Of a possible 51 regular season games, Hunter Henry played in 48.

Starting point is 00:12:58 And of course, those three that he missed, the final three games of the Patriots regular season last year, suffering a grade two MCL sprain in week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Good news, folks, with the signing, I think it almost confirms that Hunter is going to be fully recovered for the start of Patriots training camp. That goes into line with everything I've been hearing on Hunter right along, so that is great news for the Pats. And it also means, folks, that the new challenge is about to begin. And here's where all of hunter henry's challenges that i've been describing now comes to the forefront matthew slater is no longer walking through the door he's retired mac jones is likely moving on to another team the patriots

Starting point is 00:13:36 still have great leaders on the defensive side of the ball but they need someone on offense that's capable of commanding not just the attention of his fellow teammates, but also helping them to lead by example on the field. Hunter Henry is that guy. With the Patriots widely expected to take a quarterback at number three in the upcoming draft next month, they're going to need that veteran presence on offense, not only capable of being a top-level performer on the field, but also one that's conditioned to lead through his words and through his actions. And Hunter Henry did a great job of that during his first year as team captain. It's a new coaching staff in New England. Gerard Mayo is the new head coach. Alex Van Pelt is the new offensive coordinator. They're going to need someone that was in that locker room last year that played under Bill Belichick and Bill O'Brien that can help bridge the gap between

Starting point is 00:14:24 the existing veterans they have on this staff and the new players coming in via free agency and also via the draft. In the final analysis, kudos to the Patriots for acting quickly on Hunter Henry. Because they did that and have locked him up before free agency began, the Pats are going to continue to have a captain at the helm

Starting point is 00:14:40 who knows those challenge waters all too well. Pats fans, thank you for joining me here today and allowing me to wax a little poetically on a player that I have not only a great amount of personal admiration for, but also a great deal of professional respect in Hunter Henry. I think a great move for the Patriots, but I would love to hear what your thoughts are. Drop a note in the comments section below,

Starting point is 00:15:02 and don't forget, folks, Lock locked on patriots is not done yet later today on friday my good friend the count of murphy fisto thomas murphy is going to be joining me here on these airwaves to discuss the patriots options along the offensive line we're even going to share a mock draft with you keep in mind that episode with murph was recorded before hunter henry signed his extension here in new england And if that's not enough, we've got a special weekend edition coming up, a free agency primer where we'll break down in greater detail Hunter Henry's signing and what it means for the Patriots' potential spending spree next week with our good friend and resident voice of reason, Steve Balistrieri.

Starting point is 00:15:38 All reasons to stay locked into Locked On, Patriots. But in the meantime, all of you everydayers, all of you casual listeners, and anyone joining us here for the first time, I appreciate your support of Locked On On Patriots. But in the meantime, all of you everydayers, all of you casual listeners, and anyone joining us here for the first time, I appreciate your support of Locked On Patriots. I remind you to stay safe and to stay well

Starting point is 00:15:52 and to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you back here again soon on Locked On Patriots.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Re-Sign Hunter Henry: New Challenges Lay Ahead for Pats Offense — BONUS EPISODE

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.