Chicago Bears Rumors: Team ready to make run at Austin Hooper

At this week’s NFL Scouting Combine, things appear to be heating up for the Chicago Bears. They look ready to pursue a top-tier tight end.

If you are a Chicago Bears fan, you are aware of how desperate the team is to upgrade the tight end position. Going into free agency and the NFL Draft, tight end is arguably the most needy position, along with the offensive line.

You might be in the club that argues for quarterback, and I wouldn’t disagree. But, that’s a debate for another day.

This week, the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine has had plenty of talks going on outside of simply the prospect pool. Of course, owners, general managers and coaches are there to watch the nation’s top rookies in preparation for the draft in April.

But, with all of those guys under one roof for a few days, there is bound to be plenty of juicy conversations had.

One of the rumors floating around, for a while, has to do with the Bears going after free agent tight end Austin Hooper. This week, Hooper took to his social media to express how the Atlanta Falcons felt about his chances at returning to the team that drafted him. In a few words, he wrote, the Falcons “told him to hit the road.”

Enter: Ryan Pace and the Bears.

According to the Chicago Sun Times‘ Jason Lieser, the Bears are ready to make Hooper an offer.

Over the last two seasons, Hooper has been voted to the Pro Bowl. Last year, Hooper had the best year of his career when he caught 75 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns. Becoming one of the focal points of a Bears offense which is hurting at the position, Hooper could flourish in Matt Nagy’s offense.

At the moment, they have Trey Burton penciled in as the starter. But, Burton’s health has been in question and his production dipped in his second year with the team due to that fact. After this season the Bears could cut Burton much easier than they could this year, and Hooper would be “the” guy going forward.

Heck, he would be “the” guy from Day 1 in Chicago.

The only question now is, who will be throwing Hooper the ball if he signs with the Bears? Once more, that’s a debate for another time — but an exciting one, albeit.