Browns' Updated Depth Chart with Mayfield, OBJ After Austin Hooper's Contract

Austin Hooper is getting paid. 

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Cleveland Browns and the star tight end have reached an agreement in principle to make him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL:

The Browns weren't done there, bringing in offensive tackle Jack Conklin in a huge move to bolster the offensive line.

Hooper was excellent in 2019 for the Atlanta Falcons, registering 75 receptions for 787 yards and six touchdowns in just 13 games. It was his second straight season with 70 or more catches. It doesn't come as much of a surprise that a market built for his services, though Hooper said he appreciated being wanted. 

"It definitely feels good to know that there's interest out there for me," he told ESPN's Vaughn McClure on Saturday. "I've worked hard over my four years in Atlanta to set myself up to be in a position like this, so I'm grateful that stuff like that is coming out."

It appeared Hooper had multiple suitors, but the Browns swooped in quickly. Conklin is the bigger get, however, addressing the biggest weaknesses in Cleveland's offense. Baker Mayfield should be one happy man.

Browns' Projected Offensive Depth Chart

QB: Baker Mayfield

RB: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt

WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins

TE: Austin Hooper, David Njoku

LT: Free agent signing or draft pick

LG: Joel Bitonio

C: JC Tretter

RG: Wyatt Teller

RT: Jack Conklin 

Cleveland's offense is going to be stacked. The team already has solid weapons at running back in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (assuming he's retained—Cleveland placed a second-round tender on him). There are also wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.

Add in David Njoku at tight end, and Mayfield isn't lacking weapons.

Granted, he wasn't in 2019, either. The issue was that Mayfield regressed (3,827 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 59.4 percent completion rate). But he's out of excuses in 2020 given all of the talent he's been surrounded by. 

The offensive line also regressed in 2019, finishing the season ranked 23rd in the NFL by Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus. The decision last offseason to trade guard Kevin Zeitler for defensive end Olivier Vernon hurt in that regard. 

Joel Bitonio and J.C. Tretter continued to play at a high level, but the rest of the players who saw snaps on the offensive line last year—Greg Robinson, Wyatt Teller, Chris Hubbard, Eric Kush, Justin McCray and Kendall Lamm—all struggled. Mayfield needs to be better in 2020, but he needs the team's offensive line to step up as well, especially at the tackle position.

Hooper is a nice upgrade at tight end, but Conklin was an enormous get for Cleveland.