How the Cleveland Browns Tight Ends Room Will Project in 2026
This offseason, the Cleveland Browns parted ways with longtime fan favorite tight end David Njoku. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Njoku’s career has been marred by injuries each year. When he was healthy, and Cleveland received competent quarterback play during brief stints by Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco, the former Miami tight end was selected to the 2023 Pro Bowl and hauled in 4,062 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns in nine seasons with Cleveland. The parting of ways between Njoku and the Browns mostly had to do with the meteoric rise of Harold Fannin, who was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft coming off a great career at Mid-American Conference mainstay Bowling Green. Fannin was nothing short of a revelation for Cleveland during his rookie campaign, bringing in 731 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 72 receptions. For reference, six touchdowns are the most Njoku has ever put up in a single season. However, Fannin won’t be the only tight end seeing action in 2026, so here’s a look at how the position group will perform this year under new head coach Todd Monken.
For starters, Fannin will likely be utilized heavily this year and could also put up another year of strong numbers. During Monken’s time as the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Mark Andrews had a career year after career year, constantly putting up terrific statistical performances as Lamar Jackson’s favorite target. There’s no doubt that Fannin, who was drafted in the third round like Andrews, can do the same thing he can as well. With 10.2 yards per reception and a catch rate of 67% from a year ago, expect both of those numbers to go up.
As for the other players in the tight ends room, Cleveland is welcoming in two from this year's draft class. Taken in the fifth round with the 170th pick in the draft, former Cincinnati Bearcat Joe Royer is coming off two very strong seasons of college football. Starting his career at Ohio State, the Ohio-born pass catcher never got much of an opportunity during his three-year stint in Columbus. It was only when he transferred to his hometown school that Royer’s career really took off. In two seasons with the Bearcats, the 24-year-old caught 79 passes for 937 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. With a hungry, young group of skill-position players, nobody yet knows who will start where; depending on how much playing time he receives, Royer could be an intriguing part of Monken’s offensive equation.
Rounding out both the position group and Cleveland’s 2026 draft class is Carsen Ryan. Ryan, drafted with the 248th pick in the seventh round, hails from Brigham Young University but spent parts of four collegiate seasons at UCLA and Utah. The Utah native broke out in his senior year with the Cougars, catching 45 passes for 620 yards and three touchdowns. With experience at tight end, running back, and fullback, expect Monken to utilize Ryan in various ways this season.
