Cleveland Browns: Why David Njoku got paid and Austin Hooper got cut
Cleveland Browns were burnt by Austin Hooper’s contract
There couldn’t have been a better match. New head coach Kevin Stefanski wanted to implement a two-tight end offense with the Cleveland Browns, and two-time Pro Bowl Austin Hooper was a free agent just hitting the market in 2020. However, after two years of sub-par performances, the Browns were ready to sue for divorce.
The press has claimed that the Browns “saved $9.5 million” when they cut Hooper. That’s warped logic because that is only comparing the total 2022 commitment before the cut to the Browns 2022 charges only: $13.25 million -$3.75 million = $9.5 million.
What’s being omitted is that the Browns added a fifth voidable year to spread the bonus monies over five years over four. That means there are three years worth of bonus money that the Browns have to be charged for and absorb into their cap.
By designating Hooper as a post-June 1 cut, they are allowed to defer two/thirds of that money till 2023. However, the total cap hit is $11.25 million. They are being charged $3.75 million in 2022 and $7.5 million in 2023.
So, are they saving $9.5 million in 2022? Yes. But are they spending an additional $7.5 million in 2023? Also yes. The calculation is posted below for those who absolutely cannot believe it, and the result is posted on Over The Cap, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald.
We have to face it, Hooper’s contract was and is absolutely horrible and it will take until 2024 before the repercussions are over.
_ Austin Hooper’s Original Browns Pay Schedule
_ YEAR Base Salary Signing Bonus Option Bonus Cap Charge
-
2020 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 $3,500,000
-
2021 $4,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $8,250,000
-
2022 $9,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $13,250,000
-
2023 $9,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $13,250,000
-
2024 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $3,750,000
-
TOTAL $42,000,000
_ Austin Hooper’s Browns Pay Schedule: Post-Cut
_ YEAR Base Salary Signing Bonus Option Bonus Cap Charge
-
2020 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 $3,500,000
-
2021 $4,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $8,250,000
-
2022 $0 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $3,750,000
-
2023 $0 $2,000,000 $1,750,000 $3,750,000
-
2024* $0 $2,000,000* $1,750,000* $3,750,000*
-
TOTAL $23,000,000
*The 2024 charges are advanced to 2023 because Hooper was designated as a post-June 1 cut in 2022. The total dead money the Browns will pay in 2022 and 2023 is 3 x $3,750,000 = $11,250,000. Ouch!
This may be the largest amount of “dead money” the Browns have ever been charged for one player. Joe Haden cost them $10.5 million in 2017-2018, who were happy to foot the bill for him to play for the Steelers so he could kick the Browns’ behinds twice a year. Has there ever been a worse deal? Perhaps LeCharles Bentley, although his was an injury situation. Andre Rison also comes to mind. Anyway, Hooper is right up there.
Now, a logical question would be, how much would it have cost if the Browns had kept Hooper on the roster for 2022 and then cut him?
In that case, Cleveland would have had to pay the $9.5 million in salary plus they still absorb $3.75 million in bonus charges in 2021. All the bonus charges would stay the same. They would still pay $7.5 million upon termination of the contract (instead of $11.25 million), hopefully after winning the Super Bowl.
So when the Press is reporting that the Browns saved money by cutting Hooper, it would have been more fair to say that they were saving $19 million in salary over the next two years. But they are also getting charged $11.25 million in “dead money” versus the cap and it is not coming back.
Lastly, despite the stigma of being labeled an underperforming player compared to his lavish contract, Austin Hooper is still a good football player. He got caught in a football soap opera not of his making.
Next. 3 Surprise moves remaining for Cleveland Browns. dark
Best wishes to him in his new position with the Tennessee Titans, and there is every expectation that he will get his career back on track immediately.