FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, who was entering the final year of his contract and has been one of quarterback Drake Maye's go-targets in critical situations, signed a two-year extension Monday.
The deal has a base value of $16 million and can be worth up to $20 million, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. It includes a $4.2 million signing bonus and $14.5 million in bonuses and guarantees, per Schefter.
The Patriots posted a picture of the 31-year-old Henry signing the deal on Monday morning.
Hunt's here to stay 🫡@Hunter_Henry84 | @Gillette pic.twitter.com/rXyX249gZp
Henry, who is one of Maye's closest friends on the team, enters his 11th NFL season and sixth in New England. He has logged 40-plus receptions in each of his five seasons with the Patriots, which is the second-longest streak by a Patriots tight end all time behind Ben Coates' six.
He is coming off a 2025 season in which he totaled a career-high 768 receiving yards and enters this year third on the franchise's all-time list for receptions among tight ends (259).
Since entering the NFL in 2016 with the Chargers, Henry ranks fifth among tight end in receiving touchdowns (47) and sixth in receiving yards (5,295) and receptions (455).
The 6-foot-5, 249-pound Henry is joined by 2026 third-round pick Eli Raridon (Notre Dame) atop the Patriots' tight end depth chart. The club had planned for free agent signing Julian Hill to be a powerful blocking presence alongside Henry and Raridon, but he tore his ACL in spring practices and will miss the 2026 season. Undrafted free agent Tanner Arkin (Illinois) is now a top candidate to fill that role.
As for Henry, head coach Mike Vrabel noted his calmness and veteran savvy, saying: "Anything that you ask him to do, it comes very easy and he's very instinctive and he's got a good feel for the game. Those are all positives, and I think that leads to his consistency."
When the Patriots reported for training camp July 24, Henry was asked about the possibility of a contract extension.
"This is a place I've grown a lot. I've grown my family. I've grown through the hard years and good years. So this is a place that means a lot to me," he said. "I'm excited for what's ahead. It's a blessing to be in the position I'm in -- going on Year 11"