Hell of a vet' Hunter Henry leaving first-year Patriots teammate impressed
Throughout their history, the New England Patriots have rostered some top-tier tight ends. Newly-voted Patriots Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski , arguably the best tight ends in NFL history, tops a list that also includes the likes of Ben Coates and Russ Francis. Hunter Henry might not have reached those same echelons yet, but he is very well on his way. Entering his sixth season as a Patriot, he very much has cemented his spot among the franchise’s top ever players at the position. That is true both for his on-field contributions and his leadership off the field, something one of the Patriots’ 2026 offseason additions can attest to. “I’ve got a hell of a vet in that room. Hunter Henry is a hell of a guy,” said free agency signing Julian Hill about his new teammate. “I’ve been working with him. He’s been helping me so much in the pass game.” One of three additions to the Patriots’ tight end room this spring alongside rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin, Hill arrived on a three-year contract in March. The details of that deal show that he very much is locked into a roster spot this year, presumably to serve as a blocking-first option at the position. The former Miami Dolphins UDFA does bring the experience of 46 NFL games to New England . But even though he is heading into his fourth season in the league, he knows that job security is not a given in his profession. That is exactly what makes Henry’s career — he entered the league as a second-round draft choice in 2016 — so impressive in Hill’s eyes. “He’s going on Year 11? I mean, how many guys can say that and produce as he’s produced?” Hill asked. “How he moves at his age, his mindset of the game, his approach to the game, you can’t make that up. I have a lot of respect for guys who have been in the business for a long time, because as y’all know, this is a short-lived business. That’s what makes him a hell of a vet.”