The Patriots and tight end Austin Hooper, who is not currently signed to any team, have come to an agreement for a contract lasting one year and could be worth as much as $4.25 million, according to a source who confirmed it to the Herald.
It is expected that Hooper will take on the role of the team's new second best tight end after Hunter Henry. The Patriots believe that the 6-foot-4, 254-pound athlete is a good match for Henry and an experienced player with multiple skills. Last season, he was the main player in Las Vegas, catching 25 passes and gaining 234 yards, after playing as a backup with the Titans in 2022 and collecting 444 yards.
In the past, Hooper worked with the new Patriots offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, for two years in Cleveland from 2020-21. During that time, he caught a total of 84 passes, making 780 yards, and seven touchdowns with the Browns, who signed him as a free agent after two Pro Bowl seasons in Atlanta. He achieved his highest performance with the Falcons in 2019, getting 75 catches, 787 yards, and six touchdowns.
In 2016, Hooper started his professional football career as a third-round selection from Stanford. His arrival fulfills another requirement for the Patriots, who had only La’Michael Pettway under contract as a tight end until last week. The team is still planning to pursue wide receivers, offensive tackles, and defensive players in free agency.
NFL Network was the first to report the news about Hooper’s deal.
