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NFL free agency 2020: Best tight ends available

By Russell S. Baxter

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 29: Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) between plays in the first quarter of an AFC West game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs on December 29, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 29: Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) between plays in the first quarter of an AFC West game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs on December 29, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 07: Hunter Henry #86 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the warm up before the game against the Oakland Raiders at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 07: Hunter Henry #86 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the warm up before the game against the Oakland Raiders at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

1. Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers)

He’s only been around for four seasons and he missed all of the 2018 regular-season campaign with a torn ACL in his right knee. And this past year, he missed four games with another knee injury. But when available, Chargers’ tight end Hunter Henry has proven to be an imposing target and made life a lot easier for quarterback Philip Rivers in 2019 as he transitioned away from reliable pro Antonio Gates.

As a rookie in 2016, the second-round pick from the University of Arkansas played in 15 games and made 10 starts. Hs finished with 36 catches for 478 yards and eight of those grabs went for scores. He followed that up one year later with 45 catches, 579 yards and four touchdowns. His lone appearance in ’18 was in the club’s lopsided loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Yet in a dozen outings this past season, Henry finished with career highs in receptions (55) and receiving yards (652) and reached the end zone five times.

More fansided.com: NFL power rankings: 2020 edition – Chiefs at No. 1

The Chargers are in the midst of an important offseason which has already seen the team stating that Rivers is no longer in their plans going forward. Keep in mind that former first-round running back Melvin Gordon, an early-season holdout this past year, is also primed to test free agency. Will Henry get the opportunity to gauge his worth on March 18 or will teams be scared off by his injury issues these past two years?

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