Austin Hooper, Tight End
This may have been the biggest miss of all of free agency. Austin Hooper had a very similar contract in terms of cap hit over the next two seasons compared to Jimmy Graham. He actually is less of a cap hit over the next two seasons.
Hooper is only 25-years-old and looks to be a future star at tight end. For the past two seasons, he’s been a Pro-Bowler for the Atlanta Falcons. He then tested free agency after wanting a change of scenery. He signed with the Cleveland Browns to a 4-year, $42 million contract. That looks to be a steal for a lethal receiving tight end.
Hooper struggles in the blocking game, but that would have made him a perfect fit in Chicago. Hooper and Kmet would be the futures at the ‘U’ and ‘Y’ tight ends respectably. Both can play both as well which would give head coach Matt Nagy the versatility of moving both around wherever he wants not even having a true ‘U’ or ‘Y.’
Graham is still a fine signing, but Hooper would have been nicer for the future and possibly for right now as well.