With a rookie quarterback at the helm, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has emphasized the importance of the supporting cast performing their roles effectively. However, the offense lacks a crucial element that has contributed to Payton’s previous successes, which might necessitate a trade.
Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports suggests the Broncos consider acquiring Austin Hooper from the New England Patriots. He notes that while Payton has previously focused on tight ends, none of the current players have become reliable targets for rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Hooper has experience as a higher-volume pass catcher in the past.
A trade proposal by Heavy Sports outlines a potential deal where the Broncos would send a seventh-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for Hooper. This proposal draws parallels from previous trades involving tight ends, including Albert Okwuegbunam to the Philadelphia Eagles and Peyton Hendershot to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The proposed trade would involve the Broncos acquiring:
– Austin Hooper
And the Patriots receiving:
– 2025 seventh-round pick
In August 2023, the Broncos traded Okwuegbunam and a seventh-round pick to the Eagles for a sixth-round pick, while the Chiefs exchanged a conditional seventh-round pick for Hendershot in August 2024. Although Hendershot and Okwuegbunam are younger than Hooper, Hooper boasts greater production. Given the Patriots’ current situation—standing at 1-4 and making a quarterback change to rookie Drake Maye—trade compensation could vary. A conditional sixth-round pick might also be a viable option for the Broncos if they conclude they need more from the tight end position to support Nix’s development this season.
Potential Impact of Hooper’s Acquisition
In his ninth NFL season, Hooper has recorded seven receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown in five games with the Patriots, outperforming any tight end on the Broncos roster. His best season was in 2020 when he made 75 receptions for 787 yards and six touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors for the second consecutive year. Standing 6-foot-4, Hooper will turn 30 on October 29. He is currently under a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, a manageable figure for the Broncos should they pursue a trade.
Originally drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, Hooper has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans. However, since 2021, he has not started more than nine games in a season.
Struggles in the Tight End Position
The tight end position has been underwhelming for the Broncos, leading Payton to make Greg Dulcich inactive in Week 5, replacing him with Lucas Krull, though this change did not yield improved results. Dulcich started three of four games in 2024 but only caught five of 12 targets for 28 yards. During the 2023 OTAs, Payton had highlighted Dulcich’s potential to fulfill a key role in the offense.
Dulcich’s inactivity raises questions about his standing with the coaching staff, especially as the trade deadline approaches. As noted by The Denver Post’s Ryan McFadden, the decision to activate Krull over Dulcich suggests that the Broncos may not have received the expected production from their tight end group. This raises further inquiries about Dulcich’s future—whether this was a one-off decision or an indication of a longer-term phase-out.
