4 Worst contracts on the Cleveland Browns 2021 roster
By Greg Newland
Worst Cleveland Browns contract No. 1: Austin Hooper
To this point, I have loved every move that Berry has made besides the Austin Hooper contract. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, but man, Berry must have thought this guy was a no-brainer. Not only does he have over $11 million of dead cap in 2022, but he also has $3.75 million of cap in 2024 with a voided contract.
I know general managers got creative with the salary cap going down and COVID19 turning the league upside down, but this is a deal the Browns can’t get out of, and he just isn’t performing.
The same guy that had 787 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns in 2019, has 317 yards and 3 touchdowns through 15 games in 2021. It honestly makes no sense to me why he hasn’t worked in this system, but he and Mayfield just can’t seem to get in sync.
He’s had a few decent games here and there but has also had seven games this season where he has less than 20 yards receiving. Two games of zero yards and another four games under 30 yards receiving.
Hooper is the seventh highest-paid tight end in the league and is basically an extra lineman. He does a fantastic job blocking, which is the only reason he has remained the top tight end on the depth chart, but he has given back very little.
What’s even more frustrating is now the Cleveland Browns will struggle to re-sign a guy like David Njoku who has been fantastic this season, but it’s hard to have $20 million-plus wrapped up at the tight end position.
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Especially when guys like Denzel Ward, Jadeveon Clowney, and Mayfield are all looking to get paid as well.