Falcons Non-Committal On Austin Hooper
5 years agoAtlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank praised two-time Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper, but he wouldn't commit to the team giving him a long-term contract extension this offseason. Hooper will become an unrestricted free agent in March. "I think he's a young, ascending player, and he has performed at a very high level for us," Blank told ESPN. "I think he's worthy, certainly, of a new contract based on market. Whether that fits in with us and our salary cap remains to be seen." The floor for Hooper will likely start at $10 million per season and $22 million guaranteed based on the market for his position. The franchise tag is a possibility, but using it on Hooper seems unlikely. The 25-year-old finished 2019 with a career-high 75 catches, 787 yards and six touchdowns despite missing three games with an MCL sprain. Hooper will be a TE1 regardless of where he's playing next year, but the Falcons offense gives him a very high ceiling.
Source: ESPN.com - Vaughn McClure
Source: ESPN.com - Vaughn McClure