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Redskins top three must-sign free agents in the 2020 offseason

By Damien Bartonek

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 27: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons catches a pass prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 27: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons catches a pass prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 27: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons catches a pass prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 27: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons catches a pass prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

No. 1 – Falcons TE Austin Hooper

The Washington Redskins are in desperate need of a safety blanket at the tight end position. With the health of Jordan Reed in question, all signs are pointing to the Redskins parting ways with the Florida Gator for his safety. In doing so, the Redskins would gain $8.5 million in salary cap space.

The money that is saved should go directly into the Austin Hooper trust fund.

Hooper, the 6-foot-4, 254-pound tight end from Stanford, would be an ideal fit at a gaping position of need. At what is most certainly the biggest need on a Washington Redskins squad that is full of them, Hooper provides an immediate high-level impact as a receiver while also progressing mightily in the blocking aspect of the position with every snap he’s on the field.

Progressing every season since entering the NFL, Austin also hasn’t had an extensive injury history. With a couple of light dings here and there, Hooper has maintained to play in 92.1 percent of all games in his NFL career. Missing only a handful of games through his four-year career, availability isn’t the only thing that is close to a guarantee with this young man.

Hooper also has a phenomenal 0.12 drop percentage, which is 0.12 less than the average drop percentage in the NFL of 0.24 percent. Being sure-handed and consistently available are more eggs in the “Austin Hooper to D.C.” basket.

The Redskins will finally be able to get as close of a guarantee as they can get from a position that hasn’t been close to that since the Chris Cooley days.

All things considered, this is the offer I’d make to Austin Hooper, being that he is a 25-year-old tight end that has made the Pro Bowl in consecutive years, with his market value being an annual salary of 9.9 million, according to Spotrac.

Contract Offer: Four years, $40.5 million ($27 million guaranteed)

The two-time Pro Bowl tight end should settle in nicely in D.C., as the Redskins should look to make Austin Hooper the first free agent acquisition of their 2020 offseason.

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