According to Matt Verderame, at least six teams have expressed interest in pending Falcons free-agent TE Austin Hooper.
Verderame adds that number could soon increase if the Chargers place the franchise tag on TE Hunter Henry, as expected.
The Falcons have already announced that Hooper will get an opportunity to test the free-agent market this year. The Bears, Packers and Redskins are among the teams preparing to make a run at Hooper so far.
Hooper is expected to be the top tight end available when free agency opens in two weeks and could reset the tight end market from $10 million per year to as much as $12 million.
Hooper, 25, was drafted in the third round by the Falcons out of Stanford in 2016. He just finished the final year of a four-year, $3.165 million rookie contract and made a base salary of $720,000 for the 2019 season.
In 2019, Hooper appeared in 13 games and caught 75 passes for 787 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
We have him included in our Top 100 – 2020 Free Agents list.
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