Three ways the Cleveland Browns signing of tight end Austin Hooper would impact the roster in 2020 and beyond.
The Cleveland Browns made one of the biggest splashes early on in free agency, signing Atlanta Falcons free-agent tight end Austin Hooper. It’s not official yet, but here’s three ways the deal would impact the Browns’ roster.
1. DePodesta values TEs
During the reign of Analytics The First, the Cleveland Browns spent a late first-round pick on a tight end, as Google searches surged as card carrying members of the Dawg Pound to find out “Who is David Njoku.”
Now, the Browns are set to make history by signing Atlanta Falcons free agent Austin Hooper. The deal will pay out $42 million over four years, with $23 million guaranteed, according to CBS Sports Analyst Scott Pioli.
Hooper was one of the crown jewel free agents of Pro Football Focus, as the analytically oriented website gave him an 80.5 offensive grade, which ranked 7th among qualifying tight ends last season. Hooper was targeted 93 times, and totaled just two drops!
Conversely, it appears the Browns don’t value the linebacker position, as it didn’t take long for Christian Kirksey to catch on with the Green Bay Packers. Kirkesy had his best years playing for Mike Pettine, who is now the Packers’ defensive coordinator.
2. A dependable player who fits scheme
The Browns had to do something about the tight end position, as the position group was an embarrassment in 2019. That’s not to take a shot at Ricky Seals-Jones. He did a solid job filling in for the injured Njoku, but he’s not a first-string tight end.
Now, the Browns are getting a dependable player, who at 25 years old, is still on the rise. Hooper caught 93.8 percent of his “catchable targets” the past two years while taking in 59 percent of contested targets. Both of those figures ranked second among tight ends, according to Pro Football Focus.
Adding another tight end also became a necessity based off Kevin Stefanski’s previous history calling plays.
In fact, Stefanski used three-receiver sets just 23 percent of time, the lowest figure in the NFL. He did this because he was deploying two-tight end sets. Remember, his offenses are run heavy behind a zone blocking scheme that sets up throws for its quarterback.
This doesn’t bode well for Rashard Higgins, who was a long shot to return, anyway.
Over the past two seasons, Hooper averaged 73 receptions and five touchdowns. Another stat you’ll like: Seventy-one of his 146 catches were for first downs.
3. Decision looms over Njoku
Speaking of Njoku, it’s widely assumed the former first-round pick will be given new life, considering John Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens are no longer employed in Berea. Njoku was drafted when Paul DePodesta was dictating strategy, and now that this is his show, it stands to figure Njoku is back in the picture.
Time will tell on his future though, as the Browns could always go with a stricter blocking option. Fortunately, we have a date to when it comes to determining Njoku’s future: May 2. That’s when the Browns will have to decide to pick up or decline Njoku’s fifth-year option.
If it’s declined, you can go ahead and forecast how the team views the future of 23-year-old.
Njoku has flashed the potential he came with as a late first-round pick, but a case of the dropsies early in his career, in addition to injuries, have kept “The Chief” from taking off.