Signing veteran tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year, $3.125 million this past offseason was arguably the New England Patriots' most underrated move, as he's been a reliable option for their trio of quarterbacks this season.
Despite being behind Hunter Henry on the depth chart, Hooper entered New England's Week 18 matchup with the Buffalo Bills needing just four receptions for a $125,000 bonus.
With Henry out on Sunday, Hooper took over as the team's top tight end, and late in the third quarter, he caught a six-yard pass from rookie quarterback Joe Milton III to give him four receptions on the day and earn him a nice payday.
The 30-year-old will be a free agent this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if a solid year earns him a contract back with the Patriots or somewhere else. He deserves it.
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