Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Tom Brady

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.

Thursday, April 11, 8:36 PM

Retired quarterback Tom Brady stated on Thursday that he wouldn't rule out returning to the NFL late in a season if a team calls in an "emergency situation". Brady, who retired from the league at the conclusion of the 2022 season, has had his name pop up in several rumors since hanging up the cleats. It appears that he still has the itch to play but it remains to be seen whether he would actually wind up returning to the league or if a team would want his services.