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Los Angeles Chargers Look To Retain Hunter Henry, A Favorite Target Of Justin Herbert’s

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The Los Angeles Chargers are doing their due diligence on their free agents, with one player mostly in their bull’s eye: tight end Hunter Henry.

The Chargers’ list of those eligible to flee is long. But it’s top heavy with Henry and defensive end Melvin Ingram II, two impact players in different stages of their careers.

Henry, 26, has the bigger upside after setting career highs in various categories last year.

Ingram, who turns 32 in April, has been productive in spurts but he didn’t become the force many expected with blocking schemes geared toward Joey Bosa, his Pro Bowl teammate.

Then Ingram, also a Pro Bowler, missed nine games with injuries and didn’t record a sack in 2020 after reworking his deal for a $14 million guarantee.

Henry was retained with the franchise tag for $10.6 million and he produced 60 catches for 613 yards and four touchdowns. It was a solid performance and eased the narrative that Henry, who missed the 2018 season with a knee injury, couldn’t stay fit. He missed two games in ‘20, but that was for COVID-19.

Henry proved his mettle and the Chargers will likely reward him. Especially after he quickly emerged as one of young quarterback Justin Herbert’s favorite receivers with a team-high 93 targets.

Paying Henry makes sense with Herbert being on his rookie contract. It presents a window of opportunity for the Chargers to shine — and expand their fan base — without paying Herbert, the NFL offensive rookie of the year, north of $20 million in annual compensation.

So how many millions will Hunter cost the Bolts? He was the third-highest paid tight end last year and he’s not repelling the pay scale.

A good starting point for the Chargers and Henry is the deal signed by Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper. Last March they agreed to a four-year, $42 million deal, with $23 million in guarantees.

It’s doubtful that Henry surpasses the top two wage-earners at his position. George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers (five years, $75 million) and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs (four years, $57.25 million) are the leaders.

If the Chargers keep Henry, it gives Herbert reliable hands at all three pass-catching spots. Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen and versatile running back Austin Ekeler complement Henry, as he does them.

Shedding Henry’s considerable talents, and his familiarity with Herbert after a career-high 60 catches, doesn’t make sense. L.A., at the minimum, could tag Henry again and negotiate on that elusive long-term deal.

What isn’t hard to grasp is the potential payout of Henry and Herbert growing their games together. Their connection was obvious last year, Henry often providing a safety net for Herbert when plays went off-script.

The Chargers would be wise to solidify that partnership, even if required to relinquish the market rate for Henry.

With Herbert’s under-market salary for the next three seasons, the pair could deliver dividends at a collective price that would provide value and firepower for the Chargers.

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