Chargers: Where do LA’s top offensive weapons rank among rest of NFL?
By Devon Auriemma
Chargers Tight End Hunter Henry
After missing the 2018 season with a torn ACL, Hunter Henry put up a career high in receptions and yards in 2019. Since he was drafted in 2016, Henry ranks inside the top 20 in receptions and receiving yards and inside the top 10 in touchdowns. These numbers are very impressive when considering the fact he has missed 23 out of a total of 64 games.
Los Angeles Chargers
Henry was always a reliable target for Philip Rivers and we could expect similar results with Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert under center, as former Bills tight end Charles Clay was one of Taylor’s top targets in Buffalo, and rookie quarterbacks tend to look to their tight end quite often.
Henry is one of the league’s top receiving tight ends and has shown he has the potential to be a good run blocker in the past, but he has to stay healthy. After missing four games in 2019, the Chargers decided to use their franchise tag on Henry which is worth $10.6 million. The team is worried about extending him long term and spending potentially $10 million or more per year on Henry due to his injury history. Henry has even said the main thing that he is focusing on is staying healthy and how he still has a lot to prove. He has the talent to earn an extension and is a difference maker on the offense.
But if he cannot stay healthy, this could be his final season with Los Angeles.
Like Allen, Henry probably ranks in the top five to seven among the league at his position, behind players like the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles’ Zach Ertz and Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews.
If he can stay healthy for the 2020 season, Henry could be primed for a career year and earn an extension from the Chargers.
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When taking these three players and comparing them to the rest of the league’s top offensive trios, it’s pretty safe to say this group would rank in the top half of the league. All three of them are extremely talented and have shown it time and time again. With Rivers moving on, L.A.’s 2020 offense will be extremely different, but Henry, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen are great options for whoever the Chargers’ starting quarterback is this season.