Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Dak Prescott

Wednesday, March 13, 12:18 AM

Las Vegas Raiders free-agent tight end Austin Hooper is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million with the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The veteran tight end will reunite with new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who was with Hooper with the Cleveland Browns. Hooper made the Pro Bowl two straight years from 2018-19 while with the Atlanta Falcons, but he hasn't been nearly as involved as he was then in the last four seasons with the Browns, Titans and Raiders. In 17 games (nine starts) last year in Vegas, the 29-year-old caught just 25 of 31 targets for 234 yards and no touchdowns. With both Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown now gone, Hooper figures to serve as New England's No. 2 TE behind Hunter Henry in 2024. Unless Henry gets hurt, Hooper is unlikely to have a significant enough role to warrant fantasy consideration in standard-sized leagues.

Friday, April 19, 8:13 PM

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said that he has not started contract-extension negotiations with the team yet, but he did meet with owner Jerry Jones a few weeks ago to discuss the situation. Prescott said he doesn't want to be the highest-paid QB in the league "necessarily" and wants to put the team in the best situation. The 30-year-old had the best season of his career in 2023, but the team flopped again in the postseason, which could make the Cowboys hesitant to do a long-term deal with the former fourth-round pick in 2016 out of Mississippi State. However, an extension would help Dallas lower Prescott's $55.46 million salary cap hit in 2024. Prescott looked great in 2023, but his lack of rushing at the QB position keeps him from upper-tier QB1 status.