Patriots Reveal Plan for Hunter Henry as Front office execs reveal Mac Jones’ expected trade value

Foxborough, MA - October 3: Mac Jones (left) celebrates with Hunter Henry after Henry made a touchdown in the second quarter. The New England Patriots host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a regular season NFL game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Hunter Henry, the tight end for the New England Patriots, is no stranger to taking on new tasks. Throughout his gridiron career, the 29-year-old has enjoyed every chance to perform above his own expectations.

Will Henry be making port in a new residence away from the comfort of the Gillette Stadium lighthouse come next season? Despite their shared desire to stay together through 2024 and beyond, Henry and the Patriots are anticipated to explore the free-agent market, according to a MassLive story published on Sunday morning.

“While the Patriots would like to bring Hunter Henry back, the tight end is likely to hit free agency,” the report stated. “The two sides are far apart on an extension.”

Henry has become one of the Patriots offense’s main scoring targets despite the fact that their three seasons in New England have seen considerably more hardship than triumph. 133 receptions for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns have been recorded by the former Los Angeles (now San Diego) Charger since he signed with the Pats in March 2021 as a free agency. As a result, Bailey Zappe and Patriots quarterback Mac Jones instantly developed a fondness for him.

Henry made the most of his first opportunity as the team captain, even though he missed the final three games of the campaign because of a knee injury. With 42 catches for 419 yards and a team-high six touchdowns, he headed the positional group. Although he is highly regarded for his adaptability, he is  most productive when playing the traditional “Y” role, accentuating his route-running skills, as well as his ability to box out. He has also proven himself a strong blocker and reliable pass catcher.

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Henry’s services are not going to be inexpensive, as the story from MassLive shows. Still, his love for the area and the team might enable the Pats to work out a fair return package for him. According to Patriots cap analyst Miguel Benzan, New England’s $100.5 million in available salary cap space could help facilitate frank discussions between the two parties.

According to OverTheCap.com, Henry is valued at an estimated $6.5 million annually, therefore it is evident that New England has the financial wherewithal to extend a deal to him. The Pats would much rather use their franchise tag money on one of their offensive linemen, Mike Onwenu ($20.9 million), even if a tight end would cost slightly less at $12.7 million (or $10.9 million for a transition tag).

If the Patriots and Henry decide to part ways, New England will remain the market at the position. With only LaMichael Pettway presently under contract for the upcoming season, they are also expected to explore the re-signings of veterans Pharaoh Brown and Mike Gesicki. The Pats may also look for some free agent help from outside the organization.

Report: Front office execs reveal Mac Jones’ expected trade value

The New England Patriots are reportedly considering trading for Mac Jones because they anticipate choosing a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft and adding a second senior quarterback to guide the rookie via free agency.

Despite having given Jones a first-round pick in 2021, it is unlikely that New England will be compensated similarly for the Alabama product. Jones might only be worth a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick, according to a recent Boston Herald story.

“Three front-office executives told the Herald quarterback Mac Jones should fetch around a fifth-round pick in trade talks with other teams,” Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald wrote. “Another AFC evaluator suggested the Patriots might be lucky to land a sixth-rounder.”

Recent reports, which mentioned Joe Flacco, seem to indicate that New England’s most likely quarterback situation this season will involve selecting a rookie and signing an experienced quarterback to either coach him or start early in the season.
Although the potential third-round pick for the Patriots is still unknown, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels are the most likely candidates, with Caleb Williams appearing to be locked up at number one.

Furthermore, it’s been claimed that New England has thought about trading down in the draft to have a chance to choose a tier-two quarterback in addition to J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix, who both had meetings with the Patriots during the combine.

While the trade value for Jones may be low, it was also previously reported that the team is not interested in picking up his fifth-year option, meaning the 25-year-old would hit free agency at the end of the 2024 season.