Who Should I Start? Jimmy Graham or Austin Hooper

Saturday, March 30, 12:21 PM

Free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham wrote on his Instagram account that he's "unsure of what the future holds" after "things ended rather quickly after the season." The 37-year-old returned to the New Orleans Saints last year and played in the NFL after sitting out in 2022 and found the end zone four times on his six catches on the season. Graham only racked up 39 receiving yards in 13 games (two starts). The five-time Pro Bowler was one of the best at his position in his prime with the Saints and Seattle Seahawks earlier in his career, but the 13-year veteran is nearing the end and could officially hang up his cleats this offseason if he doesn't get picked up by another team. If this is the end for Graham, he'd finish his successful NFL career with 719 career catches (1,115 targets) for 8,545 receiving yards and 89 touchdowns in 197 career regular-season games.

Sunday, March 9, 8:57 PM

The New England Patriots are re-signing veteran tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year, $5 million deal with a max value of $7 million. Hooper, a two-time Pro Bowler, notched 45 receptions and 476 yards with New England a season ago, his highest marks since his 2021 stint with the Cleveland Browns. While he began the 2024 season cold, the 30-year-old picked it up over the back half -- racking up four catches in five of his last seven appearances as then-rookie signal-caller Drake Maye got acclimated to the NFL. The Stanford product played second fiddle to fellow tight end Hunter Henry last season and figures to do so again if his teammate stays healthy, as the latter out-paced the former handily in snaps (835-575) despite playing in one fewer contest. It's possible Hooper returns some TE2 value this upcoming season, but he's better off left to waivers until he proves otherwise.