On Monday, veteran tight end Austin Hooper met with the Tennessee Titans media for the first time since signing a one-year deal for the 2022 season. The 27-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, spending the first four years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons.
Hooper inked a four-year deal with Cleveland but was released after two seasons.
Signing the veteran was an easy decision for the Titans, who lacked production and a primary option from the tight end position in 2021.
“It’s great to be here,” Hooper said, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I am excited. I am excited to be at a place where I am wanted, on a team that has a ton of talent, with the potential to do something special. Me, I am just going to go out and put my best foot forward and be the best I can be. I want to get back to doing what I know I can do.”
Hooper had back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in 2018 and 2019, tallying career bests in receptions (75), receiving yards (787), and touchdowns (6) in the latter year.
Despite shaky quarterback play and being in a run-first offense in Cleveland, the Stanford product racked up 84 receptions and 780 yards across two seasons with the Browns.
He noted that he was asked to split time with other tight ends and did a lot of run blocking with the Browns.
Austin Hooper says he was asked to split time with other TEs and did a lot of run blocking in Cleveland. Feels his versatility is his best attribute. Just wanted an opportunity to compete. #Titans
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 21, 2022
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has made it clear that he expects his tight ends to be block-first players. Tennessee brought back Geoff Swaim, but there’s no doubt that Hooper will have starting tight end repetitions.
Prior to signing with the team, he reached out to former college quarterback Kevin Hogan, a back-up with the Titans, who spoke highly of the culture created by Vrabel.
“Watching this team from afar, and being a fan from afar, and seeing what they do and how they go about their business,” Hooper said. “To be able to get a legitimate opportunity to be a part of it, it was an easy decision.
“(I’m) a hungry player. Every year is a new year, every year you are unproven, every year you have to prove yourself to the world. So, I am just excited for the opportunity, excited to get after it, excited to compete and earn my role with the team … Whatever my role is here I’ll accept it and do my best to excel. I want to be the best version of myself I can be.”
QB Kevin Hogan gave Austin Hooper a great review of Mike Vrabel. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/YUHPXl99pm
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) March 21, 2022
Hooper should give quarterback Ryan Tannehill a much-needed weapon through the air, while also giving Tennessee the well-rounded, primary option the team needed at the position.
