5 free agents the Panthers missed out on in 2020
By Dean Jones
Austin Hooper – TE
Stud tight end Austin Hooper spent minimal time on the free-agent market before securing terms with the Cleveland Browns. The player earned a huge contract with the franchise that consisted of four-years, $45 million with a $10 million signing bonus and $23 million guaranteed.
While the Browns may have overpaid for the player, they now have another option in a potent passing offense that also consists of Odell Beckham Jr., Kareem Hunt, Jarvis Landry, and David Njoku. Hooper could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the organization to emerge as serious contenders in the AFC North.
The former third-round pick enjoyed the best season of his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. Despite missing three games through injury, Hooper still managed 75 receptions from 97 targets.
This resulted in 787 receiving yards and six touchdowns at a yards-per-catch average of 10.6. The Carolina Panthers will have known all about the player after competing against him last season.
They lost experienced tight end Greg Olsen to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. But the Panthers were never going to be in a financial position to offer Hooper the sort of money he eventually got in Cleveland.
The organization does have high hopes for Ian Thomas, who has shown glimpses of what he is capable of so far and could take a big leap forward in 2020 with more time on the field.