BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are releasing tight end Austin Hooper, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
By releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, the Browns will save $9.5 million against the cap.
The Browns signed Hooper in 2020, coming off his best season with the Atlanta Falcons, when he caught 75 receptions for 787 yards and six touchdowns.
Hooper’s production, however, waned in Cleveland, as he finished with only 38 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns last season while starting alongside tight end David Njoku in Cleveland’s two-tight-end base offense.
With the Browns recently placing the franchise tag on Njoku, Hooper became expendable. Harrison Bryant, who has played a key role in Cleveland’s tight end rotation the past two seasons since being drafted out of Florida Atlantic, will slide into Hooper’s starting role, provided the Browns don’t bring in another tight end.