ESPN just dropped their initial Top 10 tight ends list for the 2026 season, and seriously, what in the world are they thinking? Hunter Henry, the dude who is a consistent contributor for the Patriots, is nowhere to be found on that prestigious list. It's a shocking omission when you dig into the facts.
The Numbers Don't Lie: A Head-Scratching Omission
This list, crafted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler with input from a whole panel of executives, coaches, and scouts, somehow managed to overlook Henry. And honestly, it's pretty wild to see. The guy had a rock-solid 2025 season, hauling in 60 catches for 716 yards and snagging seven touchdowns. Now, let that sink in for a second: 716 receiving yards. That wasn't just good, it was the **seventh-most receiving yards among all tight ends in the entire league last season!** This isn't some fringe player we're talking about here. What makes this snub truly infuriating is who *did* make the cut while Henry watched from the outside. He put up more receiving yards than guys like Brock Bowers, George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, Tucker Kraft, Colston Loveland, and Mark Andrews. Every single one of those players made ESPN's list. How do you explain that? It screams "underrated" when a player delivers top-tier production and still gets completely overlooked by the so-called experts.What This Means for Maye and the Patriots in 2026
It's clear Hunter Henry remains one of the most underrated players out there, despite consistently being one of the Patriots' most reliable weapons. Heading into the 2026 season, the team has made other roster additions, and there's a buzz around three-time All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown coming in as Drake Maye's "shiny new top target." That's all good and well, but let's be real: Maye, the third-year signal-caller, is still going to lean heavily on Henry. The tight end's consistency and knack for making plays will undoubtedly keep him as one of Maye's most reliable safety blankets on the field. Patriots fans have to hope these efforts continue, and frankly, Henry has every reason to come out fired up in 2026. After this kind of snub, you know he's going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder, ready to prove every single executive, coach, and scout wrong. He's still going to be a crucial part of that offense, and it'll be a blast to watch him defy the "experts" who left him off their list.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.