Cleveland Browns' Harold Fannin Jr. is predicted to have a breakout season in 2026 as the team's top tight end. With David Njoku leaving for the Chargers, Fannin is expected to thrive under new head coach Todd Monken's system.
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As the hype continues to grow leading up to the 2026 NFL season, Cleveland Browns fans are excited for the teamās new core of young playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.
While most of the attention has been directed towards the newest rookie additions, including 2026 first-round and second-round picks KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, there is one offensive weapon that could be poised for a massive season in 2026.
In his most recent article on the potential breakout players at each position for the 2026 NFL season, PFFās Bradley Locker named Brownsā 2025 third-round pick Harold Fannin Jr. as the tight end that could thrive next season.
"With David Njoku heading to the Chargers, Fannin is positioned as the Brownsā clear top tight end,ā Locker wrote. āNew head coach Todd Monken has a sturdy track record funneling targets through tight ends in his system, which should benefit the Bowling Green alum.ā
After a historical season with the Bowling Green State Falcons in 2024, Fannin was considered one of the top tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft class. However, the talented pass catcher would eventually slip to the third round of the draft, and the Browns were quick to select Fannin.
Luckily for general manager Andrew Berry and the rest of the front office, Fannin exceeded expectations as a rookie, finishing the 2025 season with 731 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 72 receptions. The 21-year-oldās impressive stint last year paved the way for him to not only claim the TE1 spot from veteran David Njoku but also lead the Browns in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Now, with Njoku recently signing with the , Fanninās path to taking the next step in his career is clearer than ever heading into the 2026 season.
Harold Fannin Jr. is expected to break out in 2026 due to his position as the Browns' top tight end following David Njoku's departure and the favorable offensive scheme of new head coach Todd Monken.
David Njoku's departure will allow Harold Fannin Jr. to take on a larger role as the primary tight end, potentially increasing his target share and overall production in the offense.
The key rookie additions for the Browns in 2026 include first-round pick KC Concepcion and second-round pick Denzel Boston, who are expected to enhance the team's offensive capabilities.
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In addition to picking Fannin to be the breakout candidate at the tight end position, Locker also highlighted that the second-year playmaker was underrated in yards per route run and his seperation rate against single coverage.
āAs a rookie in Cleveland, Fannin put his elite receiving acumen on display with a 76.4 PFF receiving grade and 1.68 yards per route run, both of which were no worse than 13th among qualified tight ends,ā Locker wrote. āAlso encouraging was Fanninās 70th-percentile separation rate against single coverage.ā
With Berry using two late-round picks on tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft (Cincinnatiās Joe Royer and BYUās Carsen Ryan), Fannin is poised to continue his success this season under head coach Todd Monken, who is known for using multiple tight ends in the passing game.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns' second-year weapon predicted to have breakout season in 2026