CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Before putting pen to paper on a four-year, $44 million contract with the Browns, Austin Hooper reached out to Baker Mayfield.
Hooper, who made the Pro Bowl his last two seasons with the Falcons, wanted to know who and what he was getting himself into before deciding to come to Cleveland.
“That is just how it works between players, if I am being honest,” Hooper said Wednesday during a Zoom video conference with reporters. “You just want to get a feel for the person you are going to work with for years. I got in contact with him early on in the process so when I did sign, I already had an idea of where am I going, who is my quarterback and what is he all about.”
Despite Mayfield’s sluggish sophomore campaign that saw him complete less than 60% of his passes and throw five fewer touchdowns and seven more interceptions than his rookie year, Hooper was already sold on Mayfield the player.
“Baker, obviously talented, a strong arm. He has a real competitive fire,” Hooper said. “Those are the two deals that really made me want to sign here were Baker and just his style of quarterback – him being aggressive, has that swag with him, which I do want. I want to play for a quarterback who has that to them a little bit, and obviously, the arm talent is there. It was a really easy decision for me.”
Shortly after singing Hooper joined Mayfield in Texas to get a jump on an offseason program that never materialized because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At that time, we all thought we were about to roll back in for OTAs and what have you. Obviously, things have changed since then,” Hooper said. “About a month after I first came out there, I stayed another week and a half out there. Banked a few hundred reps with him, had a good time with him on and off the field and just kind of got a feel for him, his personality, his wife, his family and his friends and just kind of really see Baker the person. It was a good time.”
As camp shifts from strength and conditioning followed by walk-throughs at the end of next week, that time in Austin, Texas could prove to be invaluable for both players.
“I definitely think that was kind of the initial spark that really helped our chemistry,” Hooper said. “In terms of this interesting situation we have now, we are still able to be around each other in the building and still get reps. Are they full speed? No, but the ability to be around each other and being able to work with each other, I feel like the more time you put in with each other, just the better that relationship will grow.
“Especially in a super-condensed offseason and a super-condensed training camp format, banking those few hundred reps in my opinion has really helped us already.”
Hooper caught 75 passes last season and 71 the year before to go with 10 touchdowns receptions combined.
So how does Hooper believe he’ll be able to help Mayfield bounce back in 2020?
“Run routes, get open and catch the ball,” Hooper said. “I am sure that will help him out.”
