Browns can’t count on Austin Hooper to fix Baker Mayfield
Austin Hooper will give Baker Mayfield another weapon in the passing game, but he doesn’t fix the Browns’ biggest issue on offense.
Baker Mayfield took a troubling step backwards in his second season at the controls of the Browns offense. Officials in Cleveland need to understand that signing Austin Hooper in free agency isn’t going to fix the young quarterback’s problems.
That doesn’t mean it was a bad move by the Browns’ front office. Some might criticize Cleveland for making Hooper the highest paid tight end in the history of the game, but it was the price required to get the former Falcon to take his talents to Northeast Ohio. He’ll certainly be a significant upgrade over David Njoku.
The problem with spending big money on Hooper is that he doesn’t play the team’s biggest position of need. The Browns desperately need to upgrade their options at both offensive tackle positions next year. They cannot afford to spend another season watching their franchise quarterback run for his life.
Greg Robinson wasn’t disastrous in 2019, but his performance graded him out as a below-average starter at left tackle. Chris Hubbard was even worse on the other side of the line. It’s very possible the Browns will choose to cut bait on him before the regular season arrives. Cleveland’s inability to give Mayfield a clean pocket was a big reason why his sophomore performance dropped off sharply when compared to his rookie campaign.
Paying big money to Hooper certainly limits the team’s ability to spend a lot of money on solving their issues at tackle. That doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t solidify their offensive line another way, but it costs them a ton in terms of resources. Now the Browns have to hit on a tackle in either the draft or in the bargain basement of free agency if they really want to take a step forward next year.
The most troubling aspect of this deal for Browns fans is that it looks like another example of the franchise’s unwillingness to build a team in the right fashion. This move feels a lot like the team’s decision to acquire Odell Beckham Jr. last offseason. It’s a sexy transaction that will excite the team’s fan base, but it completely ignores the team’s biggest need.
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As such, Browns fans should be cautious in their excitement about the Hooper signing. He might put up big numbers next year, but he’s not going to help Mayfield lead this offense to more wins. That will only happen if the Browns invest heavily in new offensive tackles. A shiny new tight end just isn’t enough to get Mayfield and his franchise back on track.