Hooper will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The New England Patriots have already restructured their coaching staff for the second consecutive offseason. Now it is time for the real work with an expected overhaul of the roster coming.
Free agency will be a key part of this process. And while adding external players to the mix will undoubtably happen with upwards of $130 million in projected cap space, there are also a few in-house free agents to be taken care of. Following a series of moves, 12 remain in need of a new contract prior to free agency.
Among them is tight end Austin Hooper, the next player in our free agency profile series.
Hard facts
Name: Austin Hooper
Position: Tight end
Opening day age: 30 (10/19/1994)
Size: 6’4”, 254 pounds
Jersey number: 81
Free agency status: Unrestricted free agent
Experience
NFL teams: Atlanta Falcons (2016-19), Cleveland Browns (2020-21), Tennessee Titans (2022), Las Vegas Raiders (2023), New England Patriots (2024)
Hooper had a productive three-year collegiate career at Stanford where he appeared in 26 games after redshirting as a true freshman. He caught 74 passes for 937 yards with eight touchdowns and forwent his final two years of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft in 2016.
Hooper was selected 81st overall by the Falcons, making him the second tight end off the board behind only second-rounder Hunter Henry. He had a successful four years in Atlanta as he was voted to a pair of Pro Bowls after posting back-to-back 70-plus catch seasons. Hooper then went on to sign a four-year, $42 million deal with the Browns.
In two seasons as a Brown, Hooper played 31 regular season and playoff games but saw his receiving production increase as he caught 93 passes. He gained 842 yards and scored eight touchdowns before his release following the 2021 season.
Hooper went on to spend one year each with the Titans and Raiders, where he hauled in 70 total passes. Reaching free agency again last offseason, Hooper signed a one-year deal in New England which reunited him with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
2024 review
Stats: 17 games (8 starts) | 575 offensive snaps (53%), 64 special teams snaps (15%) | 59 targets, 45 catches, 476 receiving yards (10.6/catch), 3 TDs
Season recap: Joining the Patriots tight end room as the No. 2 next to Hunter Henry, Hooper established himself as a reliable option in the Patriots passing attack. Hooper caught his first touchdown of the year from Jacoby Brissett in a Week 4 loss in San Francisco, but saw his production tick upwards with Drake Maye under center.
The rookie clearly had trust for his veteran tight ends, as 38 of Hooper’s 45 receptions came from Maye. That included ending the season by having at least three receptions in 10 of 11 games.
Hooper was on the other side of several highlights from Maye’s rookie season, including an off-script 38-yard touchdown in Miami and a pair of Maye’s best passes against Indianapolis (for another score) and in Chicago.
Austin Hooper: “You got a guy like Drake, he’s gonna throw you open. I wasn’t even open, Drake just threw me a ball to get me open.” pic.twitter.com/DTsE6S3wQ8
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) November 11, 2024
In total, Hooper posted 476 receiving yards were the most from the tight end since 2019 — his final season in Atlanta.
Free agency preview
What is his contract history? Following the conclusion of his four-year rookie deal in Atlanta, Hooper reached free agency were he cashed in on a four-year, $42 million deal with the Browns. Following two years in Cleveland, Hooper was designated as a post-June 1 release. Back on the market, Hooper signed a one-year deal in Tennessee worth $6 million before agreeing to terms on another one-year deal with Las Vegas the next year for $2.75 million. Joining New England last March, Hooper signed a third straight one-year contract valued at $3.125 million.
Which teams might be in the running? The Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers are among the top teams expected to be in the tight end market this offseason. The Los Angeles Rams are also in that group, which is more notable now that Alex Van Pelt finds himself on their offensive staff.
Why should he be expected back? Hooper was a reliable option in the Patriots passing game last season who clearly earned the trust of quarterback Drake Maye. The veteran tight end also has experience playing under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee and Josh McDaniel in Las Vegas, making him a natural fit back into the offense.
Why should he be expected to leave? While Hooper had a solid year, he will turn 31 this season and is not the most explosive player at his position. With Hunter Henry supporting a similar profile atop the depth chart, New England could look for a younger, more versatile option behind him.
What is his projected free agency outcome? The Patriots should take advantage of a strong tight end draft class, but the familiarity with Maye and the coaching staff leads to Hooper returning on another short-term deal.
What do you think about Austin Hooper heading into free agency? Is he indeed a goner? Or will the Patriots use a minuscule part of their cap space to bring him back? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.