Scratch one player off the New England Patriots’ list of 2027 free agents.
Hunter Henry, the team’s top tight end, was originally set to enter the open market next March. No more: as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Patriots and the 31-year-old have reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension.
A second-round selection out of Arkansas in the 2016 NFL Draft, Henry spent the first five seasons of his career with the Chargers. He joined the Patriots in 2021 on a three-year,
$37.5 million free agency pact, and quickly established himself as a key member of their offensive operation.
Despite varying levels of team success, Henry remained one of the top performers and most reliable players on New England’s roster — a status that did not change with the arrivals of new starting QB Drake Maye in 2024 and head coach Mike Vrabel in 2025. As a consequence, the veteran is entering the 2026 season with a combined 86 games on his Patriots résumé as well as 269 total receptions for 3,115 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Besides his original contract, Henry had also signed another three-year deal worth $27 million in 2024. That deal was set to expire in March 2026, but his career performance last season — 21 games, 69 catches, 880 yards, 8 TDs — set the stage for a new deal coming his way.
Henry and the rest of the Patriots are set to play their first preseason game of the year on Thursday against the Colts.
