It apparently became news on Sunday that the New England Patriots were not going to release tight end Hunter Henry.

The idea had been thrown around as a possible way to free up $10.5 million in cap space for the Patriots, but no one had ever concretely reported that it was a possibility, to our knowledge. But The Score’s Jordan Schultz made it official Sunday, reporting that New England “values him as a player and as a leader” and new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien “plans to better maximize his pass-catching ability.”

If the Patriots are actually fully committed to Henry, 29, then they should extend him, which could free up $6.7 million in salary cap space. New England was actually taking Henry off the field for wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey early in the season during obvious blocking situations. The Patriots also have tight end Jonnu Smith on their roster and have failed to maximize either 2021 free-agent signing.

Smith might be a cap casualty in the right circumstance, but New England decided to restructure his contract last season to open up cap space, and now that makes him difficult to release without absorbing massive amounts of dead money.

If the Patriots don’t extend Henry, who would become a free agent in 2024, then tight end becomes a sneaky future need for New England in a stacked class. Smith is also more likely to be cut after the 2023 season.

The Patriots have taken tight ends in the first round before, so perhaps No. 14 overall wouldn’t be too high, but the second or third round seems a better range for New England to replenish the room with a young player.

The Patriots last drafted tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Neither player made it to Year 3 with New England.

Here’s who NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has listed in his Top 50 2023 prospects:

10. Dalton Kincaid, Utah

22. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

24. Darnell Washington, Georgia

41. Luke Musgrave, Oregon State

Iowa’s Sam Laporta and Clemson’s Davis Allen ranked just outside the Top 50.

Washington, at 6-7, 264 pounds, had one of the top workouts of the combine with a 4.64-second 40-yard dash, 1.61-second 10-yard split, 31-inch vertical leap, 10-feet, 2-inch broad jump and 4.08-second short shuttle with 21 bench press reps of 225 pounds. 

Musgrave ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash with a 1.58-second 10-yard split, 36-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 5-inch broad jump. 

Laporta ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash with an impressive 6.91-second 3-cone. 

Zack Kuntz, who’s 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, had one of the best workouts of the combine with a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, 1.57-second 10-yard split, 40-inch vertical leap, 10-feet, 8-inch broad jump, 4.12-second short shuttle and 6.87-second 3-cone with 23 bench press reps.

Kincaid led the class with 70 catches for 890 yards with eight touchdowns. Washington, meanwhile, is the most accomplished blocker of the bunch, though Mayer is up there, as well.

Laporta comes from Iowa, which is a tight end factory and college the Patriots head coach knows well since former Bill Belichick staffers Kirk Ferentz and Brian Ferentz ar head coach and offensive coordinator. Laporta caught 58 passes for 648 yards with one touchdown last season.

Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports