NFL free agency 2020: Best tight ends available

2. Austin Hooper (Atlanta Falcons)

Sometimes it’s hard to forget that the Atlanta Falcons have other people on their team who catches passes other than the superbly-talented Julio Jones. All kidding aside, 12-year quarterback Matt Ryan has had his share of quality targets to choose from for quite some time. And that includes a tight end that has become a bigger part of the team’s passing attack on a yearly basis.

This past year, Austin Hooper played in only 13 contests finished second on the Falcons this season with an impressive 75 receptions, third on the team with 787 receiving yards and tied for second (with Jones) with six touchdown grabs behind emerging wideout Calvin Ridley (7). The 2016 third-round pick from Stanford University totaled only 19 catches in 14 games during his rookie season (3 for TDs) but did add six catches for 65 yards and one touchdown in three postseason games.

One year later, Hooper finished with 49 catches for 526 yards and three scores. In ’18, there were 71 receptions for 660 yards and four TDs and the first of two straight Pro Bowl invites. All told, the 6-foot-4, 254-pound performer has been targeted 277 times in four seasons and he’s amassed 214 catches – an impressive 77.3 reception percentage.

It’s somewhat hard to imagine that head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and general manager Thomas Dimitroff would like to see the four-year pro even get close to testing the open market.

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