The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hooper comes in for four years, $42 million
Legal tampering in the NFL began at noon March 16, and within an hour the Browns landed one of the biggest prizes this free agency season.
According to multiple reports by ESPN and NFL Network, the Browns and Austin Hooper from the Falcons have agreed to a four-year, $42 million contract that makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The deal cannot be announced until 4 p.m. March 18 when free agency officially begins.
“I’m definitely leaning Cleveland,” Adam Schefter of ESPN in a tweet quoting Hooper. “Unless something comes up unexpected, then no question Cleveland is the leader.”
This is a big get for Andrew Berry in his first major move as Browns general manager, and it is a huge addition to Coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
Hooper, 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, caught 75 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Falcons. He caught 71 passes for 660 yards and four touchdowns in 2018.
Hooper, 25, caught 34 more passes last season than five Browns tight ends — Demetrius Harris (15), Ricky SealsJones (14), David Njoku (five), Stephen Carlson (five) and Pharaoh Brown (two) — combined. His six touchdown passes would have tied Jarvis Landry for most on the Browns.
Stefanski, the Vikings’ offensive coordinator last season, likes to feature tight ends. Kyle Rudolph caught 39 passes for 367 yards and six touchdowns. Irv Smith Jr., a rookie tight end with Minnesota in 2019, caught 36 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns.
According to Mike Silver of NFL Network, the 49ers, Bears, Packers and Redskins also showed interest in Hooper, who made $2,025,000 with the Falcons in 2019.
Signing Hooper could open the door to the Browns trading Landry or Odell Beckham Jr. Both wide receivers, with a combined eight Pro Bowls — five for Landry and three for Beckham – are recuperating from offseason surgery. Njoku could also be on the trading block.
The Browns and Hooper agreed to a deal on the same day the Vikings franchised safety Anthony Harris and the Patriots franchised guard Joe Thuney. The Browns need an upgrade at right guard and at free safety after choosing to not re-sign Damarious Randall.
Six Browns’ unrestricted free agents in addition to Randall are now on the open market — defensive back Juston Burris, wide receiver Rashard Higgins, free safety Eric Murray, left tackle Greg Robinson, linebacker Joe Schobert and quarterback Drew Stanton.
In other Browns-related news, linebacker Christian Kirksey, cut by Berry last week, signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Packers.