Cleveland Browns: 5 Pro Bowlers who faded with Baker Mayfield

Austin Hooper went from Pro Bowl to Cleveland Browns casualty

Austin Hooper made two Pro Bowls with the Atlanta Falcons and hauled in 146 catches for 1,447 yards in his last two years with them. With the Browns, he caught 84 passes in two years with 780 yards in receptions.

He was about half as productive as he was for Atlanta. At the time the Browns signed him, he had the largest contract for any tight end in NFL history. However, they cut him this offseason in order to save just $2.5 million over the next two seasons. They get a $9.5 million reduction this season, but they have to eat $7.0 million in dead money next year. The Browns are basically saying that they think they can replace him with a late-round draft pick or undrafted free agent, and they do not believe he will come anywhere near his Pro Bowl form ever again.

So how the heck did Austin Hooper make two Pro Bowls as a member of the Atlanta Falcons? We’re not aware of any injury or physical problem that would explain the drop-off. Everything we know about him suggests he has given 100 percent to the team. He just was not as capable as everyone expected.

Hooper was Mayfield’s second-favorite receiver behind Landry. Overall, Hooper had 61 targets in 717 snaps, or one target every 11.8 snaps. That’s a decent amount for a number one tight end, but in terms of production, he achieved a paltry 5.7 yards per target, even lower than Landry.

His poor production didn’t earn the number of targets he received. Hooper is not a terrible blocking tight end, but both David Njoku and Harrison Bryant are probably better. At least it would be fair to say that Hooper has not stood out as a special blocker in his career.

But look at his record in Atlanta. Hooper averaged 7.5 and 8.1 yards per target in his Pro Bowl years. Some smart fans out there may wish to point out that Hooper made the Pro Bowl team both times as an alternate because the first choice was not available. Okay, that is true, but it’s still way beyond anything he has ever done in Cleveland.

However, based on his performance with the Browns, there would have to be about 30 injured tight ends, including a few on his own team, in order for Hooper to make the Pro Bowl again.

Perhaps Matty Ryan made Hooper look good, and that’s the point. An exceptional quarterback might be able to make a good player play at a Pro Bowl level. Hooper is taking his game down to Nashville for 2022 Andrew Berry is saying Hooper can be replaced for $2.5 million dollars over two years. The Tennessee Titans are willing to invest $6 million in guaranteed money to have him play tight end this season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Probably the Titans are getting their money’s worth. What was wrong in 2021 was seeing Baker Mayfield use Hooper as a security blanket and throw very low-value passes. But if the Titans have him blocking for Derrick Henry most of the time and occasionally catching screen passes, he could be a very effective tight end again.