Falcons TE Austin Hooper Speaks on Rumors of Packers, Bears, Redskins Interest

Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper has said it "feels good" to have so many teams reportedly interested in signing him.

Hooper is set to be the most high-profile tight end available on the open market.

Per Vaughn McClure of ESPN, the 25-year-old said: "It definitely feels good to know that there's interest out there for me. I've worked hard over my four years in Atlanta to set myself up to be in a position like this, so I'm grateful that stuff like that is coming out."

Per the report, there's interest from the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears, while ESPN's Rob Demovsky highlighted the Green Bay Packers.

Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN, meanwhile, ruled out the Buffalo Bills: 

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur worked at Atlanta previously as a quarterbacks coach, and Hooper has credited him with helping his development.

"When he was a coach in Atlanta, I really liked Matt LaFleur as a person," he told McClure. "I wasn't a quarterback, so I couldn't really see his coaching style as much. But he definitely helped me out as a younger player. For that, I'll always be grateful. He's a good guy; really likable person."

Hooper added that Aaron Rodgers is "one of the greatest to do it." The Packers also recently released veteran tight end Jimmy Graham.

The Falcons selected Hooper in Round 3 of the 2016 draft, and he's been a dependable option since. The previous campaign was his best in the NFL, as he registered career highs in receptions (75), yards (787) and touchdowns (six) in just 13 games.

Interest in Hooper will only intensify after the Los Angeles Chargers franchise-tagged Hunter Henry.