For Redskins, Hunter Henry’s franchise tag makes Austin Hooper a risk
By Ian Cummings
There’s been talk that the Redskins could invest in one of the top tight ends in the free agent market this year. But should they?
Free agency officially starts next week, as long as there are no pending delays set to be enacted. Legal tampering for the Washington Redskins begins on Monday, while the open signing period kicks off on Wednesday. The brunt of the action will take place after that threshold, but even now, teams are getting a head start on the work to be done.
Earlier today, a situation which the Redskins have a potential interest in developed, as the Chargers, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, franchise tagged tight end Hunter Henry, keeping him in Los Angeles for another year.
On the surface, this move isn’t connected to the Redskins, but with Henry now off the free agent market, there’s one less tight end to compete with Austin Hooper for the top tight end spot, and less lateral competition between players means more competition among bidders to make the best offers. Scarcity leads to this inflation of price, and with Henry off the market, the price for Hooper will only go up.
The Redskins have a major need at tight end, and Hooper is at least an established weapon in the NFL. But Washington has to be careful when mulling over the value of his contract. Hooper has good size and receiving ability, but he’s not worth the upwards of $10 million he’s set to receive on the market. $10 million, in fact, was the previous value. Now, with one less opponent vying for a big contract, Hooper’s market price will only go up.
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The Redskins, with their $60 million in cap space, have the capability to make more cost-effective moves elsewhere, and they shouldn’t fall victim to the fluctuations of the market. To win free agency, teams need to make the right investments. The Redskins know this well, as they’ve often been on the other end of the spectrum. Being manipulated by market valuations is one way to sacrifice that investment security, and that’s why Washington should take extreme caution when considering Hooper.