Daniel Corrigan | March 16th, 2020
The Cleveland Browns have signed former Atlanta Falcons’ tight end Austin Hooper to a 4 year, $42 million deal with $23 million guaranteed. The deal will make Hooper the highest-paid tight end in the NFL with a yearly salary of $10.5 million.
Last season, Hooper only dropped two passes in 93 targets. He had a PFF overall grade of 78.3, good for eighth among tight ends. On the season, Hooper tallied 75 receptions for 787 yards and 6 touchdowns. He had a career season in 2019 while missing three games due to an MCL injury.
Hooper will be joining David Njoku in the Cleveland Browns tight end room. Njoku was a first-round pick in 2017 and has shown flashes, but has not been able to be consistent or stay healthy. It is expected that Njoku will remain with the team. We saw new head coach Kevin Stefanski use a two tight end set in Minnesota with Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr.
The Browns have once again added a target for Baker Mayfield. Last off-season, they acquired Odell Beckham to go alongside Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Jarvis Landry, and Njoku. It did not work out last season, but with fresh new leadership, there is once again optimism around the Cleveland Browns.
Look for the Browns to attack the offensive tackle market in free agency and in the draft.
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