Green Bay Packers: 5 Top targets in 2020 NFL free agency
By Joe Kipp
2. Hunter Henry, TE
The Packers have struggled to find a legitimate tight end for most of Aaron Rodgers’ career. The team signed Jared Cook, Martellus Bennett and Jimmy Graham in consecutive offseasons from 2016-18, but none had a marked impact on the Packers offense. Cook spent one season with the team in 2016, while Bennett was released midseason in 2017.
Meanwhile, it’s likely the Packers will release Graham this offseason in an effort to save cap space. Releasing Graham would help save the Packers roughly $8 million in cap room. Doing so would also allow the Packers to replenish the position with a young promising tight end like Hunter Henry.
Drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016, Henry just turned 25 years old this past December. He missed the entire 2018 season due to a torn ACL, but posted career-highs this past season. Henry finished 2019 with 55 catches for 652 yards and five touchdowns in just 12 games.
The biggest knock against Henry is the fact that he’s missed so much time during his short NFL career. He’s missed 23 of a possible 64 games, and missed four games in 2019 due to a tibial plateau fracture in his knee. Because of his injury history, the Packers may be able to get Henry at a discount. When he’s on the field, he’s one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.