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We are breaking down the year-by-year contract details of each of the free agents the Cleveland Browns have signed. Next up, we are covering TE Austin Hooper. Hooper’s deal is considered to be 4 years for $42 million with $18.5 million fully guaranteed.
TE Austin Hooper’s Contract, Cap Hits Per Year
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Option Bonus | Workout Bonus | Total Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Option Bonus | Workout Bonus | Total Cap Hit |
| 2020 | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $3,500,000 |
| 2021 | $4,500,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,750,000 | $0 | $8,250,000 |
| 2022 | $9,500,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,750,000 | $0 | $13,250,000 |
| 2023 | $9,500,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,750,000 | $0 | $13,250,000 |
| 2024 | $0 | $2,000,000 | $1,750,000 | $0 | $3,750,000 |
| Total | $25,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $7,000,000 | $0 | $42,000,000 |
- Hooper has $18.5 million in full guarantees, which consists of his $1.5 million base salary in 2020, his $10 million signing bonus, and his $7 million option bonus that begins in 2021.
- I reached out to Jason from Over the Cap, and he confirmed that Cleveland included a void year on Hooper’s contract in 2024 to extend those bonuses, similar to what they did with the contract of Jack Conklin. The Browns are adding a that void year in 2024 in order to spread Hooper’s signing bonus and option bonus further out and lessen the per-year cap hits from it now.
- Hooper’s $4.5 million base salary in 2021 is guaranteed for injury right now, but becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the roster after the third day of the 2021 league year.
- This is a contract that makes it look like Hooper is hear for the long haul. Hooper’s cap hit in 2023 is $13.25 million; but if Cleveland cut him that year, they’d still carry $7.5 million in dead money.