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Austin Hooper 2022 NFL Player Outlook: Could Quickly Become One of Tannehill’s Favorite Targets
3 years agoAustin Hooper spent the last two seasons in Cleveland after beginning his career with the Atlanta Falcons. In those two seasons with the Browns, Hooper found himself splitting reps with both David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. He went from averaging 6.4 targets per game in 2018 and 2019 with the Falcons, to averaging just 4.5 targets per game in 2020 and 2021 with the Browns. Now he's in Tennessee, with his tight end competition being Geoff Swaim, who has never had more than 40 targets in a season, and rookie fourth-rounder Chig Okonkwo out of Maryland. With A.J. Brown now in Philadelphia and Julio Jones a free agent (for the time being), Hooper will compete with Robert Woods, Treylon Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for targets in 2022. Historically, since having Derrick Henry at running back, the Titans have been a run-first team. However, that could change this season if the Titans aren't leading in most games. They could be forced to throw more often, which could lead to more targets for a guy like Hooper. Ryan Tannehill may have no choice but to lean on the veteran tight end with Woods coming off ACL surgery and Burks being just a rookie. His opportunities in Tennessee should be closer to what they were in Atlanta than what they were in Cleveland. Don't sleep on Hooper as a late-round tight end with an opportunity to produce as a top-15 option in 2022.
