NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Austin Hooper
5. Chicago Bears
If current free-agent tight end Austin Hooper were to leave the Atlanta Falcons this offseason and if he aimed to remain in the NFC, one team that could be a possible landing spot for Hooper is the Chicago Bears.
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The tight end position was one area where the Bears struggled on the offensive side of the ball during the 2019 campaign, which ended with Chicago tallying an overall record of 8-8 while finishing in third place in the NFC North behind the Minnesota Vikings (10-6 overall) and the Green Bay Packers (13-3).
While dealing with an injury to starting tight end Trey Burton that sidelined hi for most of the year, the Bears’ injury woes and ineffectiveness at the position resulted in them not having a tight end record at least 100 yards receiving for the first time since 1970.
When Burton has been on the field and healthy in Chicago since he arrived with the Bears in 2018, he has been fairly effective. in 2018, he grabbed a career-high 54 catches for 569 yards and six touchdowns but was limited to just 84 yards receiving and no touchdowns on 14 catches in eight games in 2019.
One way to shore up that need for Chicago at the position would be to go after Hooper this offseason to provide the Bears offense with another receiving option to go alongside Allen Robinson and company in the passing game.
Chicago head coach Matt Nagy has traditionally relied heavily on production of tight ends within the passing attack, with his previous offensive coaching positions in Philadelphia and Kansas City have displayed that.
If the Bears want to take the passing game to the next level in 2020, they should strongly consider Hooper as an addition to the offensive side of the field. And Chicago could be an appealing location for Hooper as well, with the tight end likely resulting in playing a large role in the offense.