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The New England Patriots are in desperate need of a tight end, and unfortunately, Rob Gronkowski isn't walking through that door.
Gronkowski's importance to the Patriots was on full display in 2019, as New England was unable to replace the retired legend's production. Not even close.
As a matter of fact, Pats tight ends totaled just 37 receptions this past season, which was 10 catches less than what Gronkowski totaled by himself in a down year in 2018.
Luckily, the Patriots have an entire offseason ahead of them to straighten this out, and this time, they will probably have a better plan than Ben Watson and Matt LaCosse.
There will be numerous big-name tight ends hitting the free-agent market in March, and one that New England should really be zeroing in on is Hunter Henry.
Let me start by saying that Henry comes with a rather significant caveat.
The 25-year-old missed all of 2018 due to a torn ACL, and this past season, Henry was sidelined for four games due to a tibial plateau fracture in his other knee.
It didn't stop him from hauling in 55 receptions for 652 yards and five touchdowns, but it is certainly something to keep an eye on moving forward, as Henry has yet to play a full 16-game campaign in his four-year NFL career.
But when Henry is healthy? He is one of the most talented players at his position in the league.
Outside of Julian Edelman, the Patriots don't really have much of anything in their aerial attack.
Mohamed Sanu was a big disappointment after coming over in a deadline trade with the Atlanta Falcons, and N'Keal Harry was limited to just seven games during his rookie campaign due to an ankle injury.
Yes, Harry has potential, but he is a major question mark, and let's not forget that Edelman is 34 years old and coming off of shoulder surgery.
Now, here is the thing: it's looking more and more like Tom Brady is seriously considering leaving the Patriots in free agency, which could obviously change the way New England approaches things next month.
But even if Brady does depart, the Pats still need a tight end, and Henry is very young, so he is a guy the Patriots should be considering with out without Tom.
Of course, the big thing when it comes to Henry is what type of contract he will get. He is not a durable specimen like fellow free-agent tight end Austin Hooper, so teams will certainly be more leery about giving him a lucrative long-term deal.
But no team seems to need Henry more than the Patriots.
Obviously, New England can poke around at other options (like Hooper and possibly Eric Ebron), so there is no guarantee that the Pats will focus on Henry.
However, there is no denying Henry's talent, and there is no doubting how much he can elevate the Patriots' passing game so long as he stays healthy.
Look for New England to make a concerted effort to try and nab Henry in March, regardless of what its situation is under center.
