The Green Bay Packers are expected to be one of the teams in the running to sign free-agent tight end Austin Hooper, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. A third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, Hooper caught 75 passes and made the Pro Bowl in 2019.

While Hooper will be costly to sign on the open market, the Packers need help in the passing game and could use a complementary tight end to go with Jace Sternberger, last year’s third-round pick.

After reviewing eight games of Hooper from 2019, here’s a review of his game and how he could fit with the Packers in 2020 and beyond:

What he can do

– Super efficient target. Caught 75 of 93 targets in 2019 and has a career catch percentage of 77.3. Caught at least 75 percent of his targets each of the last three years.

– Reliable hands. Pro Football Reference credited him with just one drop in 2019. Generally catches everything with his hands and is comfortable in close quarters. Absorbs contact and holds onto the football well. Big wingspan (nearly 80″) provides a wide catch radius.

– Terrific in the middle of the field. Has a strong sense of working through zones and finding the soft spots.

– Most targets were quick, underneath throws. Averaged 6.8 intended air yards per target in 2019.

– Good route runner. Can be really deceptive selling it early in a route.

– Doesn’t possess game-changing speed but he can run. Showed flashes of exploding off the ball and beating linebackers up the seam for big plays.

– Asset in the red zone. Will sit down in zone coverage and present a big, attractive target for the quarterback but can also work open late in the progression. Contested catch qualities show up in the scoring area. Caught six touchdowns inside the 20-yard line in 2019.

– Can win after the catch but he’s not particularly slippery or explosive in the open field. Good at creating a lower center of gravity and powering through arm tackles. The Falcons (and even Stanford) liked using him on tight end screens to utilize patience and vision.

– Not consistent getting open downfield against man coverage but excels at creating easy throws in the short to intermediate areas, especially between the hashes.

– Effort blocker. Isn’t going to move people off the line as an inline tight end but his tape shows willingness and desire. Wide frame helps. More comfortable moving across the formation in split zone looks or walling off the backside of run plays.

– Saw too many lost blocks resulting in negative plays in 2019. He can get beat one-on-one on the edge in the zone scheme.

– Had effective snaps staying in as a pass protector. Not perfect, and he won’t block edge rushers for long, but he can chip and help keep the pocket clean when asked.

How he fits

As a receiver, Hooper would be an immediate upgrade on Jimmy Graham. He’s younger, moves better, catches more contested passes and has high-volume potential as an intermediate, middle of the field target. The fact that he’s 26, entering his physical prime and coming off a Pro Bowl season would instantly give the Packers a more well-rounded attack through the air, especially if Jace Sternberger can develop into the field-stretching complement at tight end. Hooper isn’t a special athlete, won’t often threaten downfield and usually needs scheme help to get open for big plays against man coverage, but he’s super reliable and consistent, with an excellent all-around game that would quickly make him a best friend on the field for Aaron Rodgers.

In the run game, Hooper is no George Kittle as an inline blocker but he can play with his hand in the dirt and at least provide some semblance of pre-snap “illusion” in terms of run or pass. A scheme that keeps him on the move as a run blocker will help him. Don’t ask him to reach block edge rushers, but get him moving across the formation to block the backside or into the second level to wall off a linebacker and he’ll be fine.

Impact of adding him

Signing Hooper could limit the Packers’ ability to re-sign Bryan Bulaga or add a linebacker or receiver in free agency, but crossing off the tight end position from the offseason checklist would give GM Brian Gutekunst more flexibility in the draft. The 2020 class looks weak at tight end, and young players at the position often take years to make an impact, so free agency provides the best avenue for an immediate fix. The Packers know they must get better throwing the football. Signing Hooper and then drafting one or two of the top available receivers in a deep draft class of pass-catchers could really boost the Packers’ pass-game in 2020 and beyond, helping Rodgers realize the full potential of his final remaining years in Green Bay.