5 free agents the 49ers absolutely must avoid at all costs
By Peter Panacy
No. 3 free agent 49ers must avoid: TE Austin Hooper
Remember back when the 49ers pursued tight end Austin Hooper back in 2020 NFL free agency?
Well, the Cleveland Browns landed him that year instead of the Niners, who remain on the hunt for an excellent No. 2 tight end to support the All-Pro, George Kittle.
San Francisco settled on now-retired tight end Jordan Reed that year, but injuries to both Reed and Kittle never allowed head coach Kyle Shanahan to deploy that vaunted two-tight end set.
Following a one-year stint with the Titans, the 28-year-old Hooper is again available and could be in play for Shanahan once more.
The 49ers should wisely pass, though.
For starters, Kittle is scheduled to earn up to $18 million this season, accounting for 7.7 percent of the Niners’ cap space. Assuming Hooper earns at least $6 million again, which is what he received with Tennessee a year ago, San Francisco committing nearly $14 million at the tight end position isn’t exactly smart business.
Especially when the class of tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft is notably deep and talented. The 49ers should look there instead.