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Austin Hooper isn’t yet sure where he will spend the 2020 NFL season, but the two-time Pro Bowler is convinced of one thing: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is “one of the greatest to do it.”
The 25-year-old Hooper spoke highly of Rodgers and his abilities while discussing his impending free agency with ESPN, fueling speculation that the coveted Atlanta Falcons tight end could land with the Green Bay Packers this offseason.
“One of the greatest to do it, for sure,” Hooper said of Rodgers, via ESPN. “Definitely a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback. I mean, I can’t say enough good things about the guy. Some of the things he does, I don’t think anyone else in the league can do. I’m not saying anything revolutionary here. I really like his style and how he carries himself. He’s just got a swagger about him where he’s cool, calm, and collected. He always has an answer for what’s happening.”
Hooper is expected to be the top free-agent tight end on the market when the new league year begins next Wednesday after the Los Angeles Chargers franchise-tagged Hunter Henry. The Falcons have already agreed to let their star test the open market, and he has no shortage of interested parties — including the Packers.
Per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers are gearing up to “make a run” at Hooper in free agency, which seems even more likely after they released veteran Jimmy Graham on Thursday for $8 million in cap savings. The Packers only have one viable starting option currently signed to next year’s roster in Jace Sternberger as 35-year-old Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan (exclusive rights) also both set to hit free agency next week.
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Hooper Also Has Ties to Packers’ Matt LaFleur
Beyond his respect for Rodgers, Hooper also has a personal connection with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur after the two were together with the Falcons during their 2016 Super Bowl run.
Hooper was just a rookie then and admitted he didn’t have much interaction with LaFleur, who was coaching the quarterbacks during their one and only season together, but he holds him in high regard as someone who helped him along early on in his NFL career.
“When he was a coach in Atlanta, I really liked Matt LaFleur as a person,” Hooper said, via ESPN. “I wasn’t a quarterback, so I couldn’t really see his coaching style as much. But he definitely helped me out as a younger player. For that, I’ll always be grateful. He’s a good guy; really likable person.”
Hooper would become an immediate pass-catching asset for a Packers team hungry to diversify its receiving game this offseason. He has improved his production in each of his four seasons with him pulling down 75 receptions for 787 yards and six touchdowns — all career-highs — during the 2019 season despite missing three games with a knee injury.
Still, even with a favorable age and steady improvement, the Packers won’t be able to sign Hooper for cheap. He is projected to command more than $10 million per season on his next contract, which would make him the league’s highest-paid tight end in terms of salary.
Ponying up that type of money might not be super appealing to the Packers given how much of a bust their deal was with Graham — who was the highest-paid tight end prior to his release — but that also goes to show they are willing to spend top dollar on tight ends. Though, other suitors could price Hooper out of the Packers’ range depending on their other plans for free agency.
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