Redskins: Free agent thoughts on Brandon Scherff, Amari Cooper, Austin Hooper

Who fits better, Cooper or Hooper?

Now, let’s go back to Cooper. With an anticipated salary of $20 million, would he have more of an impact for the Redskins offense then Hooper at $11 million?

Here’s how I see it.  The three biggest weaknesses of the Redskins offense in recent years were the inability to disguise play calls, receivers that couldn’t separate, and poor blocking at the TE position.

With the emergence of McLaurin and Sims last season, the Redskins now have two players at the position with the ability to separate.

Hooper would fill a HUGE void because of his ability to be a three-down player and a capable blocker. The offense would be less predictable.

Who fills the void of need better? Advantage Hooper.

Which player will be more productive in Scott Turner‘s offense? Turner doesn’t have a long history of play calling.  But he’s the son of former Redskins coach Norv Turner. In Carolina, they emphasized throwing the ball to the running backs and tight ends early and often. Advantage  Hooper.

Hooper will make around $11 million. Cooper will make an estimated $20 million. Pretty simple math. Hooper is the better value as the $9 million in savings allows the Redskins to do a lot more.  Advantage Hooper.

I see this situation similar to the hiring of Ron Rivera.  Coach Rivera may not be the best coach in the NFL, but he was the perfect coaching hire for the Redskins. Hooper may not be the best tight end in football, but he could prove to be the perfect fit in Washington.  If the decision comes down to Cooper or Hooper, my decision is clear. It’s Hooper.

Don’t worry, speculation season is coming to an end. “Enjoy” the back and forth banter for the next six weeks while you can. Soon, it will be critiquing season where fans will criticize every move the Redskins made during the draft and free agency. Enjoy the ride!