Cleveland Browns to launch TE Austin Hooper, save $9.5M in opposition to wage cap

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are releasing tight finish Austin Hooper, a supply advised ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

By releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, the Browns will save $9.5 million in opposition to the cap.

The Browns signed Hooper in 2020, coming off his finest season with the Atlanta Falcons, when he caught 75 receptions for 787 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Hooper’s manufacturing, nevertheless, waned in Cleveland, as he completed with solely 38 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns final season whereas beginning alongside tight finish David Njoku in Cleveland’s two-tight-end base offense.

With the Browns not too long ago putting the franchise tag on Njoku, Hooper turned expendable. Harrison Bryant, who has performed a key position in Cleveland’s tight finish rotation the previous two seasons since being drafted out of Florida Atlantic, will slide into Hooper’s beginning position, supplied the Browns do not usher in one other tight finish.

The Browns have additionally re-signed LB Anthony Walker to a one-year, $5 million deal, his brokers Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha inform ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Walker registered 113 whole tackles (69 solo) and a sack in 13 video games for the Browns final season.