5 players the Patriots should sign for Tom Brady
1. Austin Hooper
The Falcons aren’t a good team last season, but don’t blame Hooper. He blossomed into an absolute star in 2019. That’s bad news for Atlanta’s hopes of re-signing him this offseason.
It could turn into excellent news for the Patriots though. Hooper may not be a perfect schematic fit for the New England offense, but his ability to torment opposing defensive backs should trump any concern about fit. He won’t ever be a great in-line blocker, but he does have the talent to become the top pass catching tight end in the league.
Hooper won’t make Brady forget about Gronkowski, but he would give him a new toy to utilize in the passing game. The former Falcons’ tight end is a match-up nightmare in his own right. His combination of speed and size makes him too big for covers to corner and too fast for either linebackers or safeties to defend via single coverage.
He’s absolutely a player that Belichick could get the most out of. The Patriots focus on match-up advantages more than any other team in the league. Hooper could be an immediate star working with Brady and he could also help New England develop their next quarterback of the future.
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Inking Hooper might cost the Patriots a small fortune, but it also might keep Brady as a Patriot for life. That’s why he should be New England’s top target in free agency.