Browns add Austin Hooper to explosive offense
The Cleveland Browns agreed to a deal with the most productive tight end on the market in Austin Hooper to start free agency.
As the Browns continue to search for ways to upgrade the offense and maximize the potential of 2018 No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, they agreed to terms Monday morning on a deal with tight end Austin Hooper, securing the biggest name on the tight end market and upgrading at a major position of need.
Ian Rapaport of NFL Network was first with the news, just minutes after free agency negotiations opened up:
#Falcons free agent TE Austin Hooper, the top player at his position, is headed to the #Browns, per @TomPelissero, @MikeSilver and me. They’ve agreed to terms, he’s the new highest-paid TE.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Over the past two seasons, as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Hooper has caught at least 70 passes for at least 660 yards, and finished his time in Atlanta in 2019 with the best season of his career. Hooper corralled six touchdowns and tallied nearly 100 targets, becoming one of Matt Ryan’s most reliable targets.
The Browns alternated between Demetrius Harris and Ricky Seals-Jones at the tight end spot last season, with neither serving as the reliable yards-eater that Hooper will be for Mayfield. However, it’s not out of the question that they could look to re-sign one of those players for depth, as each was a threat in the end zone, though not entirely consistent as a high-snap receiver.
David Njoku, who suffered wrist injuries and a concussion in 2019, is still owed a base salary of $1.7 million in 2020. Considering the Browns once used a first-round pick on him, maybe he gets first priority as they re-organize the depth chart behind Hooper. The Browns’ attachment to previous picks is unclear at this point, though, as they hired yet another top executive this offseason in Andrew Berry.
As Marc Sessler of the NFL Network noted, new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was among the most prolific coordinators in deploying two-tight end sets last year with Minnesota.
Regardless of how the rest of the depth chart stacks up, Hooper will add needed stability at a key position, and give Mayfield another consistent threat who brings a different skill set with size and efficiency alongside Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
As of now, Hooper’s exact contract is unknown, but Rapaport said he will be the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
dark. Next. Browns still need more than Hooper to fix Baker