Hooper: Van Pelt gets passing grade
Tight end excited to work with OC again
Explaining why Patriots players should enjoy working with new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is easy for Austin Hooper.
Hooper spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with Van Pelt in Cleveland and can still attest to the following: Van Pelt is consistent, likable, intelligent and fun. And that’s about all you need to know.
“Good energy in the building. That’s a huge part of it,” Hooper told reporters Thursday via video conference. “Most people just think of the three hours you see on Sunday, but there’s many more hours throughout the week where you’re spending a lot of time together. And it makes work so much better when you enjoy the people you work with. It makes sense, right?”
Hooper, 29, is set to play for his fifth team this upcoming season in New England, and indicated Van Pelt has distinguished himself from other coordinators over the years.
“His style, his approach, his offense, his understanding of his personnel, and who he is as a man and coach, it’s going to make it really fun to be in the building every day,” Hooper said.
The Patriots signed the veteran tight end to a oneyear contract last week. Hooper is expected to serve as their No. 2 at the position, behind returned starter and captain Hunter Henry. Hooper said he was familiar with Henry, having both been drafted in 2016.
He originally entered the league with Atlanta, spending four years with the Falcons, including a couple Pro Bowl campaigns. Hooper then left for a big free- agent deal in Cleveland, where he met Van Pelt and began to play more inline as opposed to split out wide. That forced Hooper to adapt his game to a more physical style.
As for what he expects in New England, Hooper, who is now on his fourth team in as many years, declined to speak on anything specific about Van Pelt’s offense. However, he suggested Van Pelt will be willing to adapt to the team’s personnel based on experience coaching several different offenses around several different types of players.
“Just a guy who’s played a lot, been through a lot, coached a lot, and has seen the game from every angle,” Hooper said of Van Pelt.
Earlier this offseason, Van Pelt said he would adopt most of the Browns offense, having served as their offensive coordinator from 2020-23. During his tenure, Cleveland ranked among the league leaders in snaps played with multiple tight ends, a likely reason Hooper has reunited with his old coach in Foxboro.
Safety signed
The Patriots signed freeagent safety Jaylinn Hawkins on Thursday.
The 26-year- old split last season between the Chargers and Falcons, totaling 14 tackles and one pass deflection. Atlanta made him a surprise cut in mid- October, which allowed Los Angeles to claim him the following day off waivers. Hawkins primarily played on special teams and projects as a backup safety in New England, where the Patriots recently released veteran Adrian Phillips and saw fellow safety Jalen Mills walk in free agency.
Hawkins entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2020 out of Cal and spent the first three seasons of his career with the Falcons. He enjoyed his best season in 2022, starting 16 games while racking up 84 tackles, six pass deflections and a forced fumble. Last year, he saw most of his snaps on special teams (125 to 29 defensive snaps in Atlanta) before the Chargers used him as a defensive backup and special-teamer in the second half of the year.
Masslive reports Hawkins agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots. He joins Kyle Dugger (who has yet to sign his transition tag), Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Joshuah Bledsoe and Brenden Schooler in the team’s safety room.
Hawkins’ addition brings the team’s roster to 70 players. The Patriots are scheduled to make eight draft picks next month.
Extra points
The Patriots met with two Texas prospects, wide receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Ja’tavion Sanders, earlier this week, according to NFL Draft writer Tony Pauline. Worthy is a projected top- 50 pick who recently set the NFL combine record for fastest 40yard dash time at 4.21 seconds. Sanders is a 6-foot- 4, 245-pounder who caught 45 passes for 682 yards and two touchdowns last year. He’s a projected Day 2 pick. … The Pats officially announced the re- signing of wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. The two sides agreed to a three-year, $19.5 million contract with just $5.5 million in full guarantees last week. Bourne has been rehabbing his torn ACL in his hometown of Portland, Ore., this offseason. … Receiver Demario Douglas posted a new jersey number on his Instagram, indicating he will wear No. 3 next season.