BEREA, Ohio -- With the Cleveland Browns offense struggling to find a rhythm in practice on Tuesday, Baker Mayfield's eyes finally located tight end Austin Hooper as he rolled out of the pocket. With a quick hand gesture, Mayfield directed Hooper where to get open, resulting in a first-down completion along the sideline.

As much of the attention this season figures to remain on Cleveland's offensive stars, like wideout Odell Beckham Jr., running back Nick Chubb and Mayfield himself, Hooper ultimately could prove to be the connecting tissue that elevates the Browns' attack to another level.

"I think there's a comfort level," coach Kevin Stefanski said of the chemistry Hooper is generating with Mayfield, "and we have to make sure that continues to grow."

Play at tight end was among the many ills that plagued the Cleveland offense last season.

Returning starter David Njoku suffered a wrist injury in Week 2, then was a nonfactor even after returning from injured reserve late in the season. Nobody else emerged as a consistent option, as the Browns cycled through a combination of Ricky Seals-Jones, Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and undrafted rookie Stephen Carlson, with none compiling more than 15 receptions.

The Browns are shifting to a tight end-heavy attack under Stefanski, who in Minnesota used multiple tight ends at once more than any coordinator in the league last season. New Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry prioritized upgrading the tight end room and targeted former Atlanta Falcon Hooper, the top free agent at the position on the market.

"One of the biggest things and one of the reasons we're really excited in this system is the versatility," Browns tight ends coach Drew Petzing, who came from Minnesota with Stefanski, said of Hooper. "All of the different things you saw him doing in Atlanta from playing on the move, playing in line, stretching the field. ... I think all of that versatility really allows a player, a team and an offense to be explosive. That's something that strikes you right away when you turn on one game and he's doing what looks like eight different jobs in a matter of 15 plays. ... makes him a pretty unique player."

Getting such a unique player didn't come cheap.

With Hooper, 25, coming off a career year in Atlanta, it cost the Browns $23 million in guaranteed money, the third-highest figure they've committed to a free agent in at least the past 10 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Info. But Hooper gives the Browns a player who will help make Stefanski's system work while providing Mayfield with the reliable target over the middle he sorely lacked in 2019.

"We identified that early on in that free-agency process, and Andrew and his staff did a great job to make that happen," Stefanski said of signing Hooper, who, at $10.5 million, is the third-highest-paid tight end in the league in average salary per year. "We think we have a versatile football player, a guy that has played in a scheme similar to this. He really can do a bunch of different jobs, a young player, smart. Very excited about Austin."

So too is Hooper's new quarterback.

Twice during an unprecedented virtual offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hooper flew to Mayfield's hometown in Austin, Texas, and stayed with him so they could work out together. The second time, in mid-May, Mayfield and Hooper convinced several of their offensive teammates to join them, including Njoku, who despite asking for a trade request, then later rescinding it, is expected to start alongside Hooper in the double tight end base offense.

Even though Mayfield and Njoku have been together the past two seasons, through the first week of camp Hooper has been the one who has looked like he has played with Mayfield for years.

"I definitely think that was kind of the initial spark that really helped our chemistry," Hooper said. "I feel like the more time you put in with each other, just the better that relationship will grow."

Hooper started that relationship before signing. And he said getting to know Mayfield clinched his desire to go to Cleveland.

"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," Hooper said. "Baker, obviously talented, a strong arm. He has a real competitive fire. 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."

It was a decision that should also make life easier for Mayfield.

Despite Cleveland's inconsistency at the position last year, Mayfield still was more efficient when multiple tight ends were on the field. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Mayfield averaged 8.3 yards per passing attempt with nine touchdowns to just three interceptions and a QBR of 62 with multiple tight ends. With one or none, those numbers plummeted to 6.9 yards per attempt and a QBR of 49; Mayfield also threw 18 interceptions with just 13 touchdowns with one or no tight ends.

When the Browns attempted to sell Hooper on signing with them, a source said they pitched him on being the player Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews was for Mayfield at Oklahoma.

In 2017, the year Mayfield won the Heisman, it was Andrews who topped the nation's No. 1 offense -- boasting a pair of future first-round wide receivers in Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb -- with 62 receptions.

Hooper, coming off a season in which he totaled 75 catches, 787 yards and six touchdowns -- all career-highs -- said he's ready to do the same for Mayfield in Cleveland.

"Run routes, get open and catch the ball," Hooper said. "I am sure that will help him out."