Tag: Austin Hooper

WATCH: Patriots QB Drake Maye hits Austin Hooper for leaping touchdown grab

The Drake Maye and Austin Hooper connection continues

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has found comfort in throwing to the tight ends this season.

That was once again evident on his touchdown pass to veteran tight end Austin Hooper, who made a leaping grab to give the Patriots the lead in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Maye squeezed the throw through several Colts defenders for the 16-yard touchdown. It ended an eight-play, 70-yard drive and took 4:34 off the clock. The touchdown grab was Hooper’s second of the season, as he continues to be a dependable second option for the Patriots offense.

Several offensive line penalties marred the offense throughout the game. Nevertheless, they were able to have some degree of success. Maye is keeping plays alive and constantly finding his open receivers.

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4 (realistic?) trade targets for Broncos ahead of NFL’s deadline

Will the Broncos trade for a tight end ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline? Here are four players the team could consider.

With the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) now one week away, we are once again revisiting the topic of potential trade candidates for the Denver Broncos.

Last week, we listed five high-profile tight ends, five star wide receivers and a trio of New Orleans Saints players who the Broncos could target before the trade deadline. While exciting candidates, those 13 players might not necessarily be realistic targets.

Today, we’re taking a quick look at four players who could be more realistic candidates for Denver to bring in before the deadline.

Broncos realistic (?) trade targets

1. TE Jordan Akins: The Browns probably don’t want to trade David Njoku, but Adkins could be an expendable tight end. He has 16 receptions for 140 yards and one score this year, better totals than all of Denver’s tight ends.

2. TE Connor Heyward: The Steelers seem unlikely to part with Pat Freiermuth, but Heyward has seen his role decline a bit this year despite being productive in the past.

3. TE Austin Hooper: Sensing a trend? The Patriots are happy with Hunter Henry, but perhaps they would be willing to part with Hooper. His career averages out to 50 receptions for 501 yards and 3 touches per season.

4. WR Jonathan Mingo: Diontae Johnson would likely have a big price tag, but Mingo could be a more realistic target. The former second-round pick is underutilized in a woeful Panthers offense.

As the NFL’s trade deadline approaches, will track any potential moves for Denver on Broncos Wire.

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WATCH: Jacoby Brissett connects on touchdown pass to Austin Hooper

Jacoby Brissett finally gets the Patriots in the end zone

The New England Patriots ended up taking advantage of a San Francisco 49ers special teams miscue at the beginning of the second half.

The 49ers fumbled the kickoff return, and the Patriots recovered the ball and turned it into a touchdown-scoring drive.

The drive itself took five plays, 27 yards and 2:49 off the clock. It concluded with Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett connecting on a play-action pass to tight end Austin Hooper.

Hooper put the finishing touches on the play by taking the ball into the end zone for the touchdown and cutting into the 49ers’ lead by a 20-10 margin, following the extra point.

It was Hooper’s first touchdown of the season and Brissett’s second touchdown pass.

The 49ers would respond with a touchdown following the Patriots’ possession.

So whatever excitement came from the play was short-lived. The Patriots have done well when running the ball effectively and utilizing their tight ends on short-yardage plays.

At this point, it seems like the only way they can move the ball.

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Patriots getting healthier at injury-plagued position

The Patriots are finally getting healthier

The New England Patriots are looking healthier at tight end after coach Jerod Mayo’s update on Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper returning to practice on Monday.

Mayo believes Henry, who has missed multiple training camp practices, will be ready to go by the Week 1 regular season opener. The veteran tight end has been battling an undisclosed injury over the last couple of weeks.

He was a bright spot for the struggling offense in 2023, recording 42 catches for 419 yards and six touchdowns. In three total seasons with the Patriots, he has recorded 133 catches for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns.

“I think he’ll be there,” Mayo said, when asked about Henry’s status for Week 1.

Hooper being back after missing a practice was a positive sign as well.

Overall, it sounds like things are improving for the tight end room. It could be an important position for the Patriots with younger receivers in the mix and a new offensive system in place.

New injury to monitor at Patriots training camp practice

There was a new injury at Saturday’s practice

Saturday’s training camp practice was only open to the media for the New England Patriots, and ESPN’s Mike Reiss noted that veteran tight end Austin Hooper went down with an injury during the session.

Hooper has been working in as the top tight end with Hunter Henry sidelined with an injury. Now, the Patriots could be in a position where their top-two tight ends are hurt.

According to Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, Henry’s injury isn’t expected to be long-term. So there’s a chance he can work his way back into the mix soon. However, if Hooper misses any time, things start to look scary thin at the tight end position.

This could potentially open up more opportunities for rookie Jaheim Bell. The seventh-round pick has shown flashes of potential throughout training camp, and he could benefit from more reps. Veteran Mitchell Wilcox should factor into the mix as well.

The injury bug has been an ongoing problem along the Patriots’ offensive line, and now, the tight end position is dealing with those same issues. It’s a rough turn of events with the start of the regular season right around the corner.

Fantasy football outlook: New England Patriots TE Hunter Henry

Could fantasy owners be sleeping on Hunter Henry?

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has displayed just enough production to be drafted as a TE1 on fantasy rosters. But, seven years into his career, he hasn’t shown the consistency to be an every-week starter.

As a rookie with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016, Henry made a splash by scoring eight touchdowns on just 36 receptions. In his next three years, he had two seasons with 55 or more catches, despite missing time in each campaign. His career-best 60 receptions came in 2020, coinciding with his opportunity to hit free agency, where he signed a three-year deal with the Patriots.

Henry’s first season in New England saw him set a career high with nine touchdowns, catching 50 passes for 603 yards. It was his connection with young quarterback Mac Jones that gave the Patriots reason to believe at the time Jones would be the long-term answer.

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That didn’t happen, but Henry is a cornerstone piece of the offense as the team readjusts in the post-Bill Belichick era, and he is being asked once again to assist in the development of another young quarterback (Drake Maye).

New England had the option of moving on from Henry after last season as free agency neared. It isn’t unusual when a franchise in a rebuild sheds itself of some higher priced veteran players – even a team captain, like Henry. The Patriots did just the opposite, re-signing him to a three-year deal to keep him in New England.

The Patriots don’t have a lot of dynamic receiving options, so having Henry as a leader on the offense will be critical in the transition of the franchise.

Fantasy football outlook

It would appear Henry’s career is going to be defined as being the security blanket for young quarterbacks. In 2020, when he had the most receptions of his career (60 in 14 games), Henry was one of the go-to targets for rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. His last three seasons in New England were marked by him being a primary target for Jones.

While veteran Jacoby Brissett certainly could open the year at QB1, as the Patriots move into the Maye era, Henry is again front and center in the offensive plans. Tight ends routinely run shorter routes and settle in to soft spots in zones, giving a young QB a good target to deliver passes. Should Brissett linger in the lineup, he has a documented history as a game manager.

The other concern anyone considering drafting Henry should have is that he has a penchant for injury. He has missed multiple games in four of the last six seasons, so anyone who ends up with Henry on a fantasy roster does so with a realistic expectation that he will miss time.

Henry has consistently shown he can be expected to have about 50 receptions for 500-600 yards and four to five touchdowns – decent numbers, but not elite ones. He’s a grinder, who ideally is a No. 2 in tight end-mandatory leagues. With a growing number of athletic young TEs coming into the league, players like Henry will slide down in rankings, because he’s a proven commodity with a known ceiling. He will end up on fantasy rosters, but it won’t be to be a weekly starter.

Patriots TE Austin Hooper spotted at Tight End University

Austin Hooper appears to be getting extra work in before training camp

Veteran tight end Austin Hooper is apparently attending Tight End University in Nashville this week in preparation for his first season with the New England Patriots.

Tight End University was founded in 2021 by San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and retired former three-time Pro Bowler Greg Olsen. It is a summit for the position itself, as players like Hooper can bond and learn from their peers. There are also appearances by various legends throughout the summit, according to the official website.

Hooper signed with the Patriots in March as a free agent. He has the opportunity to be part of a dynamic duo with Hunter Henry, as the Patriots look to get their offense back on track.

The summit itself sounds like a fun opportunity for Hooper to fine-tune his skills by working out with some of the best in the game. Hopefully, that work translates on the field for a Patriots team that had one of the worst offenses in 2023.

PFF lists Patriots’ new-look WR room as one of the NFL’s most improved

The Patriots’ receivers room was listed as one of the most improved in the NFL

Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed the New England Patriots as one of the teams with the most improved wide receiver rooms, following the 2024 NFL draft.

The Patriots double dipped in the draft at the position in the second and fourth rounds with Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk and UCF’s Javon Baker. They also added a new tight end with seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell.

The free agency acquisitions got some love as well with the team landing veteran wideout K.J. Osborn and tight end Austin Hooper. All of the moves were made in an effort to ultimately build around rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

For what it’s worth, New England does have returning production as well with top wideouts DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne.

Baker has especially captured attention as a potential X receiver, which is a position the Patriots have been looking to improve for years. Locker wrote:

But the Patriots weren’t done there. Wolf scooped up UCF’s Javon Baker at Pick No. 110, a standout in advanced metrics despite not being a household name in the pre-draft process. Baker is a tremendous deep threat, with his average target coming 17.1 yards downfield during the 2023 season — the third-highest mark among FBS receivers with 80-plus targets. The former Knight has already captured fans’ attention because of some supreme self-confidence, too.

Talking about possibilities is one thing, but the Patriots still have to go out there and prove it on the field. With that said, it’s hard not to get excited about what the rookie group brings to the table.

Patriots TE Austin Hooper looking forward to reuniting with Alex Van Pelt

Austin Hooper is excited for reunion with Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper had positive reviews of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, as the two are set to unite once again.

Hooper played under Van Pelt from 2020-2022 in Cleveland. He recorded 84 catches for 780 yards and seven touchdowns during his time with the Browns.

Now, he will be looking to help add depth to a Patriots’ tight end room that is headlined by Hunter Henry.

“Really smart guy. Good energy in the building. That’s a huge part of it,” said Hooper, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Most people just think of the three hours you see on Sunday, but there’s many more hours throughout the week where you’re spending a lot of time together, and it makes work so much better when you enjoy the people you work with. His style, his approach, his offense, his understanding of his personnel, and who he is as a man and coach, it’s going to make it really fun to be in the building every day.”

Cooper signed a one-year contract with New England after the departure of Mike Gesicki.

It will be interesting to see how the tight end fits in the offense. Familiarity with the way Van Pelt runs things will be important, especially if New England drafts a rookie quarterback.

Having veteran familiarity could go a long way in the quarterback’s development process.

7 free agent tight ends Giants could target to replace Darren Waller

If Darren Waller opts to retire, here are seven free agent tight ends the New York Giants could target as a replacement option.

One year after acquiring tight end Darren Waller via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Giants may be forced into replacing him.

Waller told the New York Post on Friday that he’s “still undecided” about his future and could opt to retire.

“I have not made a decision either way,” Waller told the Post.

If Waller does return in 2024, he will be owed a base salary of $10.5 million which accounts for a cap hit of $14 million. If he opts to retire, the Giants will clear $6.2 million in cap space but be left with a dead cap hit of roughly $7.9 million.

Because of Waller’s transparency with the Giants, they have already begun to pour over the names slated to become available in free agency.

With Waller’s future uncertain and a need at the position beyond just 2024, here’s a look at seven free agent tight ends the Giants could consider.