Why Patriots Should Cut Hunter Henry; Sign New Tight End From NFC South
Kyle Pitts would be a great addition
The New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl, and now they will need to find ways to improve their roster for next season.
The Patriots roster is clearly already good, as proven by their Super Bowl run, but that does not mean improvements cannot be made. They could use another weapon for Drake Maye on offense.
The Patriots’ array of weapons is not bad, but they could use another reliable pass catcher to put pressure on defenses. Last season, Hunter Henry was second on the team in receiving yards, but the Patriots should at least consider moving on to sign an upgrade.
Henry has a $11.75 million cap hit next season, according to Spotrac. The Patriots could save over $9 million by releasing him. The Patriots are not fighting the salary cap right now, but they have key extensions looming for Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez and they could get a better player for what Henry would cost them.
Who would they sign to replace Henry? Well, Kyle Pitts is a free agent, and he would be a great addition to the Patriots’ offense. His run-after-catch ability is something that could give the offense a huge boost, and Spotrac projects him to sign a four-year, $43 million deal.
For basically what the Patriots are set to pay Henry, they could land a younger, more athletic tight end in Pitts. He is the highest drafted tight end of all time and was a 1,000-yard receiver as a rookie, his only season with Matt Ryan.
Last season, Pitts had 928 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 88 receptions. He was a Second-Team All-Pro as well. He has been held back by poor quarterback play in Atlanta, but has still proven to make plays.
He had 400 yards after the catch last season. That would have led the Patriots. He also would have led the Patriots in receptions as well. With a competent quarterback in Maye, Pitts could have a career year.
Henry is a fan favorite and has a strong relationship with Maye. However, the Patriots could land a better player at a similar price.
