According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper will sign with the New England Patriots when free agency officially begins.
Hooper only spent this past season in Las Vegas but played in all 17 games and made nine starts. He began the year as the team’s first-string tight end while rookie second-round pick Michael Mayer got his feet wet in the NFL. Mayer eventually took over the starting role around the midway point of the season, pushing Hooper down the depth chart until Mayer suffered an injury and missed Weeks 17 and 18.