LA Chargers: Looking at tight end options beyond 2020

The LA Chargers may need to explore other tight ends after the 2020 season.

This offseason the LA Chargers used their franchise tag on Hunter Henry, shelling out just under $11 million to guarantee his return for at least this season. With multiple key players needing contracts, could Henry be left out?

The Chargers currently possess a roster full of talent in which just a few pieces could be the difference between playoff disappointments and Lombardi trophies. One player that is crucial to this team right now is star tight end, Hunter Henry.

Henry has superstar talent when healthy but has not been able to stay on the field consistently throughout his career so far. He has yet to play more than 13 games in a season and missed the entirety of the 2018 season after suffering a torn ACL during OTAs in late May.

This past season, Hunter Henry put up 55 receptions for 652 yards and five touchdowns despite only playing in 12 games. Those numbers are amongst the best in the game even with the four games being missed due to injury.

Hunter Henry is currently set to play the 2020 season under the franchise tag. Once the season ends, the Chargers are hoping to lock him up for the long term, but there will certainly be a steep price tag for the tight end’s services.

With many different options at the tight end position and a number of key players elsewhere needing new contracts (Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, and Desmond King to name a few), could the Chargers be looking to find another player to fulfill the tight end role over the next three to five years?

A no-doubt top-five tight end in the game when healthy, the Chargers have a decision to make at the tight end spot for the long term future. Here are some of the options they’ll be looking at.