Former Titans’ Tight End Austin Hooper Joins Las Vegas Raiders
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have watched quite a few players head to new teams this offseason. They have another to add to the list now as former Titans’ tight end Austin Hooper will sign a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. The deal is expected to pay Hooper $2.75 million with incentives that could take it $3.5 million.
Hooper had a nice season for the Titans, all things considered. He had some big moments and big catches in some games. He finished the year with 41 catches for 444 yards and two touchdowns. The only issue is Hooper is not much of a blocker at this stage in his career. The Titans’ emerging young rookie, Chig Okonkwo, was also someone at the position that had a limited blocking ability. Hooper and Okonkwo could not be on the field at the same time if the Titans wanted to run their offense in the way they desired to.
Some fans wanted Hooper to return, but it seemed, because of his lack of fit with Okonkwo, that was never in the plans. The Titans need a player who can fill the “Goeff Swaim Role,” but with more talent than Swaim has, specifically as a pass catcher. Okonkwo isn’t going to turn into a consistent blocker overnight and will most likely require a pure in-line blocking tight end as a partner similarly to how Derrick Henry’s skillset requires a passing-down running back as a complement. Hooper can’t fill that role, so it makes sense he did not return.
The Titans still have a few options on the free agent market like a Cam Brate, Foster Moreau, Irv Smith or Drew Sample. They will also have a lot of options in the NFL Draft with what is considered one of the strongest classes of tight ends we have seen. The issue will be finding a skillset that pairs well with Okonkwo, even if there are a lot of options out there.
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