Cleveland Browns: Five free agent targets for the 2020 offseason

This option may not be the most realistic for this new Cleveland Browns regime, as they are probably unlikely to pay a tight end the money that Austin Hooper is going to make this offseason. But if new head coach Kevin Stefanski has anything to say about it, he may bang the table for a guy like Hooper.

A versatile tight end that can block well and catch passes is a vital part of Stefanski’s zone offense. Hooper could be that guy for Stefanski and the new-look Browns offense. With a breakout season in 2019, Hooper proved himself as a top tight end in the modern NFL.

Now a two-time Pro Bowler, Austin Hooper finally earned the lion share of the tight end snaps for the Falcons over the past couple seasons. He has improved year after year, and like Anthony Harris, is far from his ceiling as a top NFL player.

Despite only playing 13 games and starting 10 in 2019, Hooper racked up nearly 800 receiving yards and six touchdowns. And with Browns’ starting tight end, David Njoku, playing just four games and catching five balls in 2019, Cleveland would welcome a guy like Hooper with open arms.

While I’m sure the Browns aren’t ready to give up on Njoku, he and Hooper could complement each other well in an offense that Stefanski runs featuring two tight ends on the field at the same time rather frequently.

If Stefanski can convince his front office that bringing in a tight end like Hooper would be what is best for the optimal running of his offense, then maybe they will oblige. While Hooper will likely reset the tight end market, maybe his injury history and lack of consistent production will prevent his price from rising sky-high and out of the Browns willing range.