When the Falcons lost Pro-Bowl tight end Austin Hooper in free agency, the team quickly pulled off a trade for Ravens TE Hayden Hurst.
A first-round pick in 2018, Hurst has yet to really make an impact offensively. Over his first two NFL seasons, he’s caught 43 balls for 512 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Baltimore TE Mark Andrews had a breakout season in 2019, leading the team in catches, yards and touchdowns. Andrews’ emergence made Hurst expendable, but many are predicting a big jump from the third-year tight end playing in the Falcons’ pass-happy offense.
Even Andrews himself believes Hurst is destined for great things in Atlanta. “He’s going to go to Atlanta and thrive,” Andrews said of his former teammate according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
Hurst is an outstanding athlete just not a dominant blocker, which really won’t hurt him as much in Atlanta as it did in Baltimore.
Last year, Hooper — who isn’t known for his blocking — had the second-most targets on the team. The Falcons need a productive tight end in their scheme to take pressure off of receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.
Hurst may be under a lot of pressure, but there’s a real opportunity for him to thrive in Atlanta this season.
