The Washington Redskins need a tight end. Don’t fool yourself into believing that Austin Hooper wouldn’t be a perfect free agency signing.
Tight end is one of the biggest positions of need for the Washington Redskins. Jordan Reed was drafted back in 2013 and he’s been their star at the position basically the entire time since then. However, injuries have really hurt his career. And it reached its peak in 2019 when he didn’t even play in a single game. Due to that, the Redskins have decided to move on.
The problem is, they have no backup plan. That’s especially true as Vernon Davis retired. This leaves Jeremy Sprinkle as the current No. 1 tight end on the team. In other words, Washington probably needs to get a new tight end in the 2020 offseason. Sprinkle has talent but he’s not a No. 1. And if the Redskins offense wants to take that next step, they need a bonafide starter at the position.
Luckily, there’s a perfect option for Washington that’s currently sitting in 2020 NFL free agency: Austin Hooper.
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Now, many people have thrown out issues they have with the Redskins potentially signing Hooper. They’ve said he’s too injury-prone. They’ve said he’s not that good and is far too expensive. The most far-fetched, however, is those who have said Washington can get someone just as good as (or better) in the draft.
Hooper’s too injury-prone, you say? He’s had a four-year career so far. In those seasons he’s played in 14 games, 16 games, 16 games and 13 games. Missing five games in four years is far from injury-prone. For a comparison, Reed appeared in just 14 games (never more than that) once in seven seasons so far.
Sure, after what transpired with Reed’s career and his health, fans want someone that will play every game. They’re almost shell-shocked. But Hooper missing a few games every few seasons isn’t a red flag.
And if we’re talking about his price tag in free agency, there’s a reason for that addresses his talent level as well: Hooper is really good. Washington also has a ton of money to spend in free agency but they should be willing to pay for big-ticket players, which Hooper is at only 25 years old at a serious position of need. He’s also a Pro Bowler that has 75 catches for 787 yards and six scores in 13 games last season. That’s star-caliber production.
As for the thought process that there is an equal or better fit in the draft, that’s nonsense, even if it’s a “cheaper” option. T.J. Hockenson was taken with the No. 8 pick in 2019 but had only 32 receptions for 367 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. He didn’t give the Lions immediate high-end production despite a great draft pedigree. Moreover, the Redskins aren’t taking a tight end at No. 2 and don’t pick again until Round 3.
Of course, you can get a great player in the third round. In fact, Hooper himself went in the third back in 2016 to the Atlanta Falcons. However, he had just 19 receptions as a rookie and took time to develop, which you expect with that draft position.
Furthermore, Hooper is a rarity. Other third-round tight ends drafted since 2015 haven’t delivered in the same way. Clive Walford, Tyler Crawford, Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett and Jonnu Smith all have under 75 receptions for their career in at least 45 career games. Mark Andrews may be int he same mold of Hooper, it should be said, but again, he’s an outlier.
So would the Redskins be better off hoping to get the next Hooper or Andrews in the third round or later while taking the risk of getting a player who is average at best — or would they rather just land Hooper in free agency? In the case of the latter, Washington would not only be able to address the need at tight end but also help add depth on the offensive line and in the secondary with their mid-round draft picks.
Hooper is perfect for Washington. He’s still young but would be a veteran compared to the wide receivers and the quarterback. He’d help Dwayne Haskins evolve as a quarterback and give him a much-needed security blanket.
The Redskins went 3-13 last year but really aren’t that far off. The record was bad and they looked really bad at times. But if they change a few things, their fortunes could change quickly. Austin Hooper would be a serious step in the right direction. Don’t let some false narratives you’ve created stop you from wanting the Redskins to get one of the better tight ends the NFL has to offer.