Former Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper signed a four-year, $44 million contract on Monday, March 16—the first day of the NFL's free agency—but he could have been a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers, along with the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears, were one of the first teams to approach the soon-to-be-former free-agent tight end, according to NFL Media's Michael Silva. Hooper, 25, decided to go with the Browns' massive offer instead.
SF, Washington, Green Bay, Chicago also made a run https://t.co/FfWAsvevsm
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 16, 2020
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Hooper left the Falcons as the NFC South team found a replacement in ex-Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst, trading two draft picks to last season's best team in the AFC for Hooper's substitute.
Hooper recorded career-best numbers with Atlanta in 2019, totaling 75 catches for 787 receiving yards, scoring six touchdowns in 13 games.
The 49ers' interest in Hooper is strange considering they have one of, if not the, best player at the tight end position in George Kittle, the first-team All-Pro pass-catching part-time blocker in 2019. Before San Francisco hired head coach Kyle Shanahan, he worked as the Falcons' offensive coordinator, linking Shanahan and the 49ers with ex-Falcons tight end Hooper as the west coast team searches for depth behind Kittle.
It was also a busy day for the Niners despite passing on Hooper as they saw Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner dealt on Monday to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round pick. Buckner also agreed to a new deal with the Colts while San Francisco can use Indy's 13th overall pick in next month's draft to possibly take a stud wide receiver like CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs III, or Jerry Jeudy.
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