USAT: Titans Wire audio clip

USAT: Titans Wire

Mar 22, 2022

- - - On Monday, veteran tight end Austin Hooper met with the Tennessee Titans media for the first time since signing a one-year deal for the 2022 season. The 27-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, spending the first four years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. - Hooper inked a four-year deal with Cleveland but was released after two seasons. - Signing the veteran was an easy decision for the Titans, who lacked production and a primary option from the tight end position in 2021. - “It’s great to be here,” Hooper said, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I am excited. I am excited to be at a place where I am wanted, on a team that has a ton of talent, with the potential to do something special. Me, I am just going to go out and put my best foot forward and be the best I can be. I want to get back to doing what I know I can do.” - Hooper had back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in 2018 and 2019, tallying career bests in receptions (75), receiving yards (787), and touchdowns (6) in the latter year. - Despite shaky quarterback play and being in a run-first offense in Cleveland, the Stanford product racked up 84 receptions and 780 yards across two seasons with the Browns. - He noted that he was asked to split time with other tight ends and did a lot of run blocking with the Browns. - - Austin Hooper says he was asked to split time with other TEs and did a lot of run blocking in Cleveland. Feels his versatility is his best attribute. Just wanted an opportunity to compete. #Titans - — TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 21, 2022 - - - Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has made it clear that he expects his tight ends to be block-first players. Tennessee brought back Geoff Swaim, but there’s no doubt that Hooper will have starting tight end repetitions. - Prior to signing with the team, he reached out to former college quarterback Kevin Hogan, a back-up with the Titans, who spoke highly of the culture created by Vrabel. - - “Watching this team from afar, and being a fan from afar, and seeing what they do and how they go about their business,” Hooper said. “To be able to get a legitimate opportunity to be a part of it, it was an easy decision. - - - “(I’m) a hungry player. Every year is a new year, every year you are unproven, every year you have to prove yourself to the world. So, I am just excited for the opportunity, excited to get after it, excited to compete and earn my role with the team … Whatever my role is here I’ll accept it and do my best to excel. I want to be the best version of myself I can be.” - - - QB Kevin Hogan gave Austin Hooper a great review of Mike Vrabel. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/YUHPXl99pm - — Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) March 21, 2022 - - - Hooper should give quarterback Ryan Tannehill a much-needed weapon through the air, while also giving Tennessee the well-rounded, primary option the team needed at the position. - - RelatedTitans waive offensive lineman Corey LevinWas A.J. Brown's tweet about Marcus Mariota a shot at Ryan Tannehill?Grading Titans' trade with Rams for Robert Woods - - List - - What Austin Hooper said in introductory presser with Titans - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Titans Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Titans Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

F i l t e r   &   S o r t