CLEVELAND — Two years he signed with the Cleveland Browns as a prized free-agent target, Austin Hooper's time with the team has come to an end.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Browns are releasing Hooper with a post-June 1 designation.
By marking Hooper as a post-June 1 release, Cleveland will save $9.5 million in cap space -- although those savings won't be available for the Browns' salary cap until June 1. Hooper, however, will become a free agent immediately with the ability to sign with any team.
Hooper's release from Cleveland comes two years after he signed a four-year, $42 million contract with the Browns, which at the time, made him football's highest-paid tight end. In two seasons in Cleveland, however, the two-time Pro Bowl selection failed to live up to lofty expectations, tallying 46 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns in 2020 and 38 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns in three touchdowns.
Considering his salary and production, the Browns' decision to release Hooper doesn't come as a surprise, although some reports had stated that Cleveland would keep the Stanford product even after placing the franchise tag on tight end David Njoku. According to Fowler, the Browns' acquisition of wide receiver Amari Cooper and pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has changed Cleveland's calculus and put it in a position where the salary cap savings from releasing Hooper were necessary.
Earlier this week, the Browns made additional cuts to their salary cap when they released wide receiver Jarvis Landry and center JC Tretter.