Los Angeles Chargers: Franchise tagging Hunter Henry is the best move

There are concerns that the Los Angeles Chargers could lose tight end, Hunter Henry, in free agency this offseason, however, the Chargers can stop that with one simple thing: the franchise tag.

The most important free agent for the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason is tight end, Hunter Henry. The team has already mutually agreed to part ways with Philip Rivers, so while there are other free agents that deserve attention, Henry is the most important.

Henry is an integral part of the Los Angeles Chargers’ passing attack. Henry is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL and that is what is making him one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason.

In 12 starts in 2019, Henry recorded 55 receptions on 76 targets for 652 yards and five touchdowns. Since 2016, with Henry missing all of 18, the tight end has 17 touchdowns in 41 games played.

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Despite missing an entire season and only starting 35 of the 41 games, Henry is one of just eight tight ends with at least 17 receiving touchdowns since 2016. The other seven tight ends all have at least 56 games played.

He makes a difference when he is on the field and that is why it is such a concern if the Chargers lose him to free agency. Luckily for the fans, it appears as if Henry will return to Los Angeles in 2020, but not on the long-term contract that he would get elsewhere.

Instead, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chargers are strongly considering using the franchise tag on Henry this offseason.

The franchise tag allows the Chargers to retain Henry on a one-year contract and if the team places the tag on Henry then he would not even go to free agency. The deadline for the Chargers to tag Henry is March 12 and the franchise tag would pay Henry just over $11 million.

So why is this the best move for the Chargers instead of signing Henry to a multi-year contract with a similar, or even lesser, annual salary?

The answer lies in Henry’s injury history with the Chargers. Henry missed the entire 2018 season, as already mentioned, and even missed two games with injury in 2019. Henry has not yet played a single 16-game season in its entirety in his career and devoting that much money to a tight end with injury history is risky.

In a sense, the one-year franchise tag can serve as a “prove it” year for Henry. Henry should be entering the prime of his career and if he can stay healthy and produce at his best rate yet, then the Chargers can begin negotiations shortly after next season.

Plus, this gives the Chargers another year to figure out what the long-term plan at tight end is and whether or not it includes Henry. There are some exciting tight ends in the draft this year, including a late-round prospect who has been compared to George Kittle, which could end up being the Chargers’ cheaper alternative to Henry.

Right now, the Chargers do not have that long-term option and even if the team uses the franchise tag on Henry, it would not be surprising to see a tight end selected as high as the third round by the Chargers.

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Right now, the Los Angeles Chargers are in a transitional period at quarterback and with it unclear how the team will look in a year, locking Henry up long-term could end up being restricting. Thus, franchise tagging him for the 2020 season is absolutely the best move.

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