Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry is in the final year of his 3-year, $27M deal with only $2.5M in dead cap, making him an easy cut or near-certain UFA after 2026. His dynasty value will crater regardless of 2026 production once he departs, and no extension has been reported.

Henry turns 32 in December 2026, entering the steep phase of TE age-related decline. His last 4 games confirm the trajectory — target share down to 12% and snaps slipping to 72% — suggesting usage erosion is already underway despite a career-best season headline.

Henry and Hooper were not overly involved in pass protection and were not a big factor in the Super Bowl loss. In three postseason contests, Henry combined for a 6-81-1 line on 10 targets, showing inconsistent playoff role despite regular season success.

New England traded for star WR A.J. Brown on June 1, 2026, adding a true alpha to a room with Doubs, Boutte and Kyle Williams. Henry's 2025 target share was already trending down (12% last 4 games), and Brown's arrival caps his ceiling and likely pushes him further into a complementary/red-zone role.

At age 31, Henry is coming off arguably the best season of his career with 60 receptions for 768 yards and seven touchdowns, his best yardage mark. This demonstrates continued ability as a reliable weapon.

Drake Maye finished his second season with 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and was named All-Pro second team. Maye has loved throwing the ball to Hunter Henry, establishing a strong rapport.

Drake Maye finished second in MVP voting with 4,394 passing yards and 31 TDs and has shown strong rapport with Henry. Maye called him 'the best tight end I've played with in my lifetime' after the divisional round.

Josh McDaniels returns as OC for year 2 alongside Drake Maye (5,222 yds / 37 TDs in 2025) and QB coach Ashton Grant, who turned down the Raiders' OC job to stay. Henry was Maye's most reliable check-down and red-zone target all season; the unchanged offensive infrastructure is a concrete near-term floor.

Drake Maye has established clear trust in Henry as his primary check-down and red-zone target; in an offense specifically retooled around Maye's Super Bowl window, Henry's role as the veteran TE1 is protected throughout 2026.

Henry scored 8 TDs on a Super Bowl contender and remains the clear TE1 entering 2026. Julian Hill (the new TE2) is a blocker rather than a receiving threat, so Henry's red-zone role has no direct internal challenger until a draft pick develops.