DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Austin Hooper contract stuff..

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/202...-to-a-report-and-a-look-at-his-contract/




Austin Hooper is likely sticking around the Browns according to a report and a look at his contract

Jared Mueller follow
March 9, 2022 9:25 am ET

The Cleveland Browns made one bigger move so far this offseason with the use of the franchise tag on TE David Njoku. They’ve made other smaller moves including bringing back multiple players on future/reserve deals earlier this offseason and tendering three players making them exclusive rights free agents recently.

Following the Njoku news, there was some thought that it would lead to the team moving on from Austin Hooper. The former Atlanta Falcons tight end was one of two big moves early in Andrew Berry’s first year with Cleveland. The other, Jack Conklin, will be sticking around for another year after restructuring his deal this offseason.

According to Over the Cap, Hooper’s contract has some interesting financial particulars. As is, the tight end costs $13.25 million against the cap in 2022, the fourth largest on the team. If he is cut with a “June 1st designation,” the team saves $9.5 million this year against the cap but he will cost $7.5 million next year and $3.75 the year after that.

If Hooper is cut before the 2023 season, he’d cost $3.75 million that year and another $3.75 the year after that.

In either scenario, Hooper will cost the team $20.25 million in cap space over the next three years. Trading him before June 1st would save the team about $2 million over the span of the deal but trading him after that date would save them $9 million in cap space, mostly in 2022.

With only a trade after June 1st likely to save the team significant cap space, Hooper is reportedly expected to stick around:


That could change after June 1st but, for now, it makes the most sense to Cleveland to keep him around as they look to build their roster. Saving some cap space this year only to pay it next year may not be the highest priority for Berry and company.

Maybe Denver would be interested in Hooper after trading Noah Fant yesterday.

So far, the moves I'm seeing out of the Browns tell me they are just trying to reload most of last year's players for a run.

I don't really have an argument against that approach.

As I recall, 2020's roster was expected to go deep in 2021, based on talent/team makeup alone.
I said it halfway through last year's disappointing season- this team has a core that can be tweaked to win now. When healthy, this roster can be top 10-12 on both O & D. That puts any NFL team in the hunt. We still have the lion's share of that team who played KC to the last minute of a round 2 playoff game. I see nothing that should keep us from retooling what's necessary, and moving forward.

Associated side-thought: this is usually that time in a typical Browns regime when wholesale roster churn happens (because of cap mismanagement), large-scale staff turnover (because of dysfunction/ineptitude) or a Jimmy Haslam signature purge/reboot (because noone ever tests the water at 76 Groza). I am quite happy that this team has seemingly broken through that 2.5-year lifespan threshold. That ish was maddening.


I'm OK with dancing with the ones what brung us this far. "The Devil I know" took us to 11-5 with 2 playoff games. If we can hold cap integrity, keep players with history signed, and add what we need as we go, we are ahead of any previous Browns regime since The Return. Consistent personnel/roster is how chemistry is built. Chemistry codified over time is how Culture is built. Modern Browns have never been this close to establishing both.

.02

If he stays, he stays. It would be nice to see him do more with the targets he receives. Despite his targets being lower than they were before he came here, he still managed to lead all TEs in the league in drops these last 2 seasons. More targets will not decrease his number of drops. Last year it seemed like when he did catch the ball, he was looking to fall down. Very rarely does he get any YAC.

It may or may not increase or decrease his number of drops. I don't know if he did or didn't have that problem with the falcons. I do know he was selected for some pro-bowls, so he couldn't have been all that bad.

I do know that volume of catches and yards overshadows drops. I also wonder what exactly is called a drop? In looking at Hoopers stats, his catch percentage was at 77% for his years in Atlanta, and 64% for his years here. The top end volume of targets is going to impact that percentage. If you catch 1 out of 2 targets the catch percentage is 50%. Catch 9 out of 10 and it is 90%. I guess that is targets, no matter if it is a perfect throw or a ball that is 15 feet over the receivers head. I really don't know how many were considered drops, and again, what is a drop and how is that established?

In the end, I think Hooper is a very good tight-end and am glad it looks like we will probably keep him this year.

I'm not sure this is true. Kelce had 10 drops just this season.

But his volume of catches and yardage tend to help people turn a blind eye.

With the franchise tag used, I don't really care much about Hooper. He is a sunk cost at this point and, unless you have a time machine, there's no real point in wringing our hands over it.

Njoku and Hooper's targets need to flip-flop this coming year.

Hooper was tied for 21st in drops... 8th in drop percentage.

Kelce was tied for 2nd in drops... 20th in drop percentage.

It's like I said the other day, some people advocate paying Hooper not to be here. I'll add to that they must also think pushing huge cap hits to future years by moving on from him must be a good idea. I disagree on both counts. I'm not a fan of Hopper or his production since he's been here. But at this juncture that really has nothing to do with it. The contract is what it is and I'd rather pay the piper now than pay him later. And lastly, nobody is going to take on Hooper's contract at the current cost. People may as well get those thoughts out of their heads.

Yep...we are "stuck" with Hooper. We will be paying him regardless and he's better than the 4th (or 5th, 6th, 10th etc) TE we will likely carry. That said - the Njoku situation and contract are not ideal...at all. I expect them/us to get a few-year deal with Njoku and he won't "see" the franchise deal anyway...or at least I hope so.

I would certainly have been happier with a long term deal instead of the franchise tag. The way Hooper's contract is constructed I think he's gone next year I would love to have Njoku tied up before that happens. At the same time this FO may prefer to wait and see if Njoku steps into the franchise roll at TE if given the opportunity before they commit money to him long term. I could understand that side of things too. Increasing his reps while limiting Hooper's would go a long way at answering that question.

we need Hooper if we plan on being competitive. Baker needs big body targets. keep our TEs and sign/draft a WR who's at least 6'3

If I am reading your posted stats correctly, it proves my point.

Yes it does. I should have clarified that I was in agreement.

I thought you were, but I had to read it a few times since in a way it is a backwards stat.

I would rather have Clowney than any WR or TE on this roster.