Cleveland Browns bolster pass-catching corps as they sign tight end Austin Hooper
The Cleveland Browns have agreed to a massive deal with former Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Hooper will become the league’s highest-paid tight end when the new league year begins.
First reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns have agreed to a free agency deal to bring former Atlanta Falcons tight end, Austin Hooper, to Cleveland.
The news would later be confirmed by NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter. While a splash move is exciting, this deal raises quite a lot of questions for Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry’s game plan, and where the Browns go from here.
Most pressing for Browns fans, it raises a slew of possibilities for David Njoku, the current starter for the Browns entering 2020.
The Cleveland Browns are working to close a deal on Austin Hooper, making him the game's highest paid tight end, per source. Other teams can swoop in late but Browns the leader.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 16, 2020
Hooper had a career year in 2019, as the 25-year-old Stanford product caught 75 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Pairing him with Njoku could be just what Kevin Stefanski’s tight end-heavy offense is looking for, or this move could prime Njoku for another move, perhaps in exchange for Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams.
Austin Hooper is one of the league’s young stars at the tight end position, but he comes to Cleveland with a heavy price tag. Whether new general manager Andrew Berry makes another big move this offseason remains to be seen, but making a splash at the very beginning could mean more to come for the Browns.
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The Browns struck a big deal early and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them remain aggressive this offseason.