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Cleveland Browns: Ranking Baker Mayfield’s top-5 targets in 2020

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 wide receiver Jarvis Landry #80 wide receiver Rashard Higgins #81 and wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after Landry caught a touchdown pass from Mayfield during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 wide receiver Jarvis Landry #80 wide receiver Rashard Higgins #81 and wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after Landry caught a touchdown pass from Mayfield during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 27: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons catches a pass prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

3. Austin Hooper, Tight End

The Cleveland Browns entered this offseason with a desperate need on the offensive line which made it very unsurprising to see them go after Jack Conklin. The former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle helped them tremendously and was considered a target since before the free agency period began.

However, Conklin wasn’t their only high-profile signing on offense as general manager Andrew Berry also found a way to land former Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper. The third-round pick from Stanford was given a four-year deal worth $44 million which made him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.

Hooper enters 2020 off his best season as a pro as he hauled in 75 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns — all of which were career-highs for him. He did this even with there being several other targets on the Falcons offense which included Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley — as well as Mohamed Sanu for seven games before he was traded to the New England Patriots.

In Cleveland’s offense, Hooper will have the same issues as there will be several options ahead of him. For that reason, the talented tight end comes in as just the No. 3 option for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has shown a propensity for targeting tight ends early on in his career, especially in the red zone.

Expect Hooper to quickly become a star in this offense as the Browns have a guy capable of providing a security blanket for Mayfield, helping him avoid the deep shot risks he took far too often as a sophomore quarterback.

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