Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Patrick Mahomes

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.

Tuesday, March 12, 7:49 PM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be restructuring his contract to create an additional $21.6 million worth of salary cap space for the team in 2024 as they look to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls, according to league sources. The move gives the Chiefs some wiggle room to add some players in free agency. It was rumored on Monday that they were interested in former Chicago Bears wideout Darnell Mooney, but he landed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Kansas City could surely use another receiving weapon to help Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice in the passing game after the team's offense was the weakest its been under Mahomes in 2023. Behind Rice, none of Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, Justyn Ross or Kadarius Toney were reliable targets for Mahomes last year.