DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns sign TE Austin Hooper

That's a good sign.

Huge.

Now....

The highest-paid TE?

1. Not much
2. He’s not going anywhere

The TE position has nothing to do with your #1 WR.

But I would think this indicates the team is ready to move on from Njoku.

Maybe we could trade Njoku and mid-round pick to NE for G Joe Thuney?

One thing about it. I don't want to hear anyone whining about how Conklin isn't worth the money anymore.

Agreed on its impact to OBJ.

What kind of TE is Hooper? Is he just a real-big WR (can't/won't block) or is he a more well-rounded TE? If he's the latter, then there's still a place for Njoku in the offense, albeit a reduced one.

Is Hooper a great, good, fair, or bad blocker?

Berry said he would be aggressive bringing players in and it seems he was serious

I heard he was a willing blocker. Lunges too much. Not asked to do it all that much in Atlanta. He did block at Stanford.

BOOM!!

Not even really sure how this would be anything but good for OBJ. Not even really worth a mention other than to get clicks.

I am really happy with this. This is 100% what was missing from the offense last year. Baker Mayfeild OWNED the middle of the field in his rookie season....be it scheme or personnel we did nothing over the middle last year. Baker is an inside out QB and that's ok, seemed like we were square peg in round hole last year trying to make Baker throw outside in.


I think Njoku will thrive as a mismatch tight end, flex him out in the slot against slower LBs, erase a Safety from coverage if they go small. He is just not a #1, he is a Jordan Cameron....a nice player, but too weak to block and not dynamic enough to win on athleticism alone.


Aside from the obvious tackle needs, this was a huge concern for me now cleaned up with a really solid player.

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
·
13m
Austin Hooper just now: "I'm definitely leaning Cleveland. Unless something comes up unexected, then no question Cleveland is the leader."

actually I'm not sure about his blocking ability. hopefully the more I discover it will be good.

But he is a great weapon with 75 receptions in 2019 and 71 in 2018. Sounds like he's a replacement for Njoku in that aspect.

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
·
15m
#Falcons free agent TE Austin Hooper, the top player at his position, is headed to the #Browns, per
@TomPelissero
,
@MikeSilver
and me. They’ve agreed to terms, he’s the new highest-paid TE.

I like Hooper as a player. Good route runner. Smart. Makes some great catches even though he is not a natural catcher of the ball. I think he is a very good player. I do not think he should be the league's highest-paid TE, though. I find that to be shocking.

I do get the market value for players goes up each year, but man!

Great plan

Gotcha.

But FA is what it is, especially when you're going after the best of what's available that year (sounds like this is the case with Hooper).

Don’t forget that Hooper played in this offense with Shanahan.

So, it's not unreasonable to pay Joe Scho. Right?

2019 Browns:
TE target share: 13% (28th)
2+ TE sets: 28% (14th)

2019 Vikings:
TE target share: 24% (9th)
2+ TE sets: 54% (2nd)

https://twitter.com/MikeClayNFL/status/1239597464325406723

I like how this offense is setting up

Every year young FA's are going to reset the market.....Conklin could do the same. Either you're a star and you get paid up front in a re-signing or you're not quite a star and you make it to free agency, which is the result you see here. Almost every year the guys who make it to free agency as the best in their position are going to reset the markets. Jerrick Mckinnon was the 7th highest paid RB last season.....prior to Le;veon and Zeke contracts he was even higher.....he reached FA healthy and coming off a good year.

By no means am I comparing Hooper to them, but both teams in the superbowl had elite tight ends this past season. With Njoku's drops and just generally not having been coached well, I assumed they would go after a TE in the draft, but this is an even better option.

Hooper was widely regarded as a top 5 player at his position. Is Scho even top 15? I'd say that I would love to re-sign Scho, but in my opinion he is barely above JAG.

Njoku has not earned this type of credit. What about Njoku has made anyone believe he will even get a second contract in the NFL to this point?

At one point before Freddie took over the team I thought he was a monumental bust....then he flashed a bit at the end of the year then he got hurt.

I think some of the guys throwing these tweets around should do a bit more digging.

The Vikings had nothing at WR beyond Theilan and Diggs. They also missed time w/injuries. Not sure if the tweeters are looking at the big picture.

Numbers can often be misleading.

vaughn mcclure
@vxmcclure23
Early word I’m hearing on Austin Hooper’s contract is four years, $44 million.


Not bad

Excellent signing.

Assuming we keep Chief, this not only puts less emphasis on the 3rd WR, but also severely limits the defense ability to roll coverages toward OBJ.

Pick your poison. Bakers rookie season was great in part of having both TEs doing damage. Looks like we’re running it back.

Solid signing.

OBJ, Landry, Hooper, Chubb, Hunt, Njoku ... if we get Conklin and draft an OT ... yeah, I’m happy

With the thoughts of how a Stefanski offense will be heavy TE.. this doesn't surprise me.. Plus, Njoku is not consistent.

I like this move.