Vaughn McClure of ESPN reports that the Redskins are “very interested” in signing Falcons TE Austin Hooper in free agency.
Hooper says he appreciates the level of interest in him and is looking forward to seeing how things play out from here.
“It definitely feels good to know that there’s interest out there for me,” Hooper tells McClure. “I’ve worked hard over my four years in Atlanta to set myself up to be in a position like this, so I’m grateful that stuff like that is coming out.”
Other reports have mentioned that the Packers and Bears are expected to be among the interested teams in Hooper this offseason.
Hooper has ties to Packers HC Matt LaFleur from their time together in Atlanta and Redskins OC Scott Turner after working his with his cousin, Morgan Turner, at Stanford.
Hooper says he’s trying to keep everything in perspective and plans to leave his free agency up to his agent, Steve Caric.
“I’m just let my agent [Steve Caric] handle it,” Hooper said. “Me personally, I just trying to treat it like any other day in the offseason. I wake up, go run, and then lift. I’m not trying to get too wrapped up in this stuff. Don’t get me wrong, it’s exciting. But I feel like if I focus too much on [free agency], I’m not focused on improving.”
Hooper is expected to be the top tight end available when free agency opens 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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