The New England Patriots tight-end depth chart had a major shakeup on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, former Patriots tight-end Mike Geseski signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving the Patriots with only one tight end under contract. According to NFL Network, the team quickly found his replacement, adding Austin Hooper to a one-year contract. Furthemore former Patriots tight-end Pharaoh Brown signed with the Seahawks.
The deal is reportedly worth up to $4.2M for Hooper. The 29-year-old has played eight seasons in the NFL. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has since played with the Browns, Titans, and Raiders.
In 122 games, Hooper has recorded 364 catches for 3,702 yards and 25 touchdowns. Last season, his production decreased, as he only totaled 24 receptions for 234 yards. The Stanford product had a successful start to the NFL, earning two Pro Bowl selections during his first two years in the league.
The veteran also has experience playing under Patriots OC Alex Van-Pelt. He signed with the Cleveland Browns before the start of the 2020 season. In Cleveland, he was coached by Van-Pelt along with Patriots quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney.
Meanwhile, former Patriots tight-end Pharoh Brown time reached an agreement with the Seahawks, signing a one-year, $3.2M deal on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Brown, 29, was one of the top-ranked tight ends last year, according to PFF. He compiled 280 yards on 13 catches and 15 targets and averaged 16 yards per reception, which was second in the NFL. After Week 1, he was signed to the active roster and played in all 17 games, starting 11.
Before joining the Patriots, Brown has played for the Browns and the Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders.
In addition to losing Brown, former Patriots tight end Mike Geseski is also departing the Patriots and signing with the Bengals.
Gesicki, 28, finished his first year with the Patriots with 29 receptions for 244 yards and two scores. A 2018 second-round pick, Gesicki spent his first five seasons with the Dolphins. He eventually received the franchise tag in 2022 but only played one more season in Miami. In 81 games with the Dolphins, he tallied 231 catches for 2,617 yards and added 18 touchdowns.
After the 2022 season, he signed a one-year, $9M deal with the Patriots. He was primarily used as the backup tight-end, with Hunter Henry receiving the main snaps.
Hunter Henry and La’Michael Pettway are the two tight-ends under contract for the Patriots next season.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
