Patriots to re-sign TE Austin Hooper

The Patriots have made a big-ticket outside addition in the form of edge rusher Harold Landry, but the team is also making an internal move ahead of free agency. Tight end Austin Hooper will remain in New England for 2025.

Hooper has a one-year deal in place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact has a base value of $5M and can top out at $7M. He will continue to operate in a tandem with Hunter Henry after doing so in 2024.

After playing out his rookie contract with the Falcons, Hooper bounced around the NFL. He saw time with the Browns (2020-21) followed by one-year stints in Tennessee and Vegas. That was followed by another one-year commitment in 2024, this time by the Pats. Hooper produced 45 catches, 476 yards and three touchdowns in his debut New England campaign.

That came on a $3M deal which included $2.41M in guarantees. Hooper has earned a raise on another one-year pact based on his 2024 play. Henry remains in place as a result of the three-year, $27M deal he inked last offseason, and after setting new career highs in catches and yards last season he will be counted on to remain a key member of New England’s passing game moving forward. Hooper, 30, represents an effective complement, though.

Adding at the receiver position remains an obvious priority for the Patriots this offseason, and the list of remaining free agents includes Chris Godwin, who has been linked to strong New England interest should he depart the Buccaneers. New England will still have plenty of cap space left once the Landry and Hooper deals are official, and it will be interesting to see if the team moves quickly in making another skill-position move in the coming days.