LA Chargers: 3 options to replace Hunter Henry if he walks
By Jason Reed
LA Chargers backup options for Hunter Henry: 2. Hunter Long
The LA Chargers could go from one tight end named Hunter to another tight end named Hunter if they need to replace Henry in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Out of all the possible tight ends that the Chargers could win up with in the 2021 NFL Draft the best scenario for the team is Hunter Long. Long is not someone who is going to cost high draft capital but can still bring very solid production at the NFL level.
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Long is primed to go in the third round and the best-case scenario for the Chargers would be taking him with the team’s second third-round pick. However, he may not slip that far and it might take the team’s first third-round pick to get him.
Long is someone who excelled in both the passing game and in blocking at the collegiate level. He projects to be an instant impact player right away and eventually should blossom into a productive TE1. I think the ceiling is lower with Long than Henry, but with the other tight ends on the team, that will be fine.
There is absolutely no reason for the team to take a tight end in the first two rounds with the other roster needs and even picking Long this early is something that I do not love. However, if they knock the first two picks out of the park, and if they fill other needs in free agency, then Long would be a great pick.