Twitter Reacts to Patriots Signing 2nd Stud Tight End in 2 Days

The New England Patriots added a tight end to address their issue. This wasn’t enough, so the team added another one. Monday and Tuesday were big days for the Patriots nation.

And New England strikes again: The Patriots are signing former Chargers' TE Hunter Henry to a three-year, $37.5 million deal, including $25 million guaranteed, per source.

Free agency's top two tight ends, Henry and Jonnu Smith, wind up in New England.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2021

Head coach Bill Belichick and tight end Hunter Henry agreed to a three-year deal worth $37.5 million. We all know that Henry was a long-time favorite of the Patriots head coach.

This was Bill Belichick on Hunter Henry prior to last December’s Chargers-Patriots game. … and then, of course, after the game. pic.twitter.com/qGzLju7Q2U

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 16, 2021

Belichick’s Patriots add the best tight end duo

The Patriots got Henry and Jonnu Smith. In other words, they snatched the two biggest free-agent targets at tight end. This is an incredible boost to the passing offense. New England had almost zero production from their tight ends in 2020.

Veteran quarterback Cam Newton is super excited. He got a one-year deal with the team and also cheered on Henry’s signing. The quarterback took to his Instagram account to deliver the big news.

Signing Henry wasn’t a big shock for the Patriots. Mike Reiss from ESPN reported that Belichick really likes the tight end.

Coach Belichick like y’all got me all the way F’d up!! ??????

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 16, 2021

Getting both Smith and Henry was a big move for New England. Belichick will no longer worry about the depth issue that was a problem this past season.

Patriots TE personnel

?Jonnu Smith
?Hunter Henry
?Ryan Izzo
?Devin Asiasi
?Dalton Keene
?Matt LaCosse

Welcome back, 2-TE offense, going back to the Daniel Graham/Benjamin Watson and Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez combos. https://t.co/OxYGsdwN8i

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 16, 2021

Evan Lazar from CLNS said Henry and Smith would work really well together.

Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith compliment each other extremely well. You got a traditional in-line TE in Henry and a classic move TE in Jonnu. A true 1-2 punch for the #Patriots.

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 16, 2021

The Patriots have the third and fourth highest-paid tight ends in the league.

Highest paid tight ends in the NFL …

1) George Kittle, 49ers $15.0M
2) Travis Kelce, Chiefs $14.3M
3) Hunter Henry, Patriots $12.5M
4) Jonnu Smith, Patriots $12.5M
5) Austin Hooper, Browns $10.5M

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 16, 2021

Patriots won’t stop here

The team was really active in the first couple of days of free agency. Here are the lists of players who joined and left the team:

• TE Hunter Henry – 3-Year, $37.5 million
• DL Henry Anderson – 2-Year, $7 million
• WR Kendrick Bourne – 3-Year, $22.5 million, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport
• WR Nelson Agholor – 2-Year, $26 million
• LB Matt Judon – 4-Year, $56 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter
• DB Jalen Mills – 4-Year, $24 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter
• DT Davon Godchaux – 2-Year, up to $16 million per ESPN’s Adam Schefter
• TE Jonnu Smith – 4-Year, $50 million per ESPN’s Adam Schefter
• OT Trent Brown – Reportedly acquired via trade with the Raiders

Returning Patriots

• DL Carl Davis – Officially Re-Signed
• DL Deatrich Wise Jr. – Reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss
• DB Justin Bethel – Reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss
• QB Cam Newton – Reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter

Opt-Out Players Reportedly Returning

Per Boston Globe’s Jim McBride

• LB Dont’a Hightower
• S – Patrick Chung
• WR – Marqise Lee
• FB – Dan Vitale
• C – Najee Toran
• TE – Matt LaCosse
• RB – Brandon Bolden

Departures

• OL Joe Thuney – Signed with Kansas City Chiefs, per NFL
• S Terrence Brooks – Signed with Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter
• OT Marcus Cannon – Traded to the Houston Texans, per Patriots.com