The Cleveland Browns are already looking ahead to the future, and the name Harold Fannin Jr. is at the center of their long-term plans. Though Fannin won't be eligible for a contract extension until the 2028 offseason, the recent surge in the NFL's tight end market has given the Browns plenty to consider.
This week saw some significant moves in the tight end landscape, notably with Jacksonville's Brenton Strange securing a three-year, $48 million extension. Strange, a late second-round pick in the 2023 draft, has been a key player for the Jaguars, but his new deal, placing him among the top five tight ends in terms of annual salary, raises eyebrows. Despite not surpassing 50 catches or 600 yards in any of his seasons, Strange's contract reflects the evolving value of tight ends in the league.
Meanwhile, Atlanta's Kyle Pitts recently inked a new deal after being franchise-tagged, capitalizing on his standout 2025 season with career highs in targets, receptions, and touchdowns. Pitts and Fannin share similarities as dynamic receiving threats, though Pitts was a top-four pick in 2021, whereas Fannin was a third-round steal for the Browns in 2025.
Fannin's performance last season, where he led the Browns in nearly all receiving categories, suggests his next contract could set a new standard. As the Browns look forward to 2028, they anticipate a more favorable salary cap situation. Currently, they carry significant dead money, but by 2028, they'll be moving past Deshaun Watson's cap hits and potentially building around a young, cost-effective quarterback from the upcoming draft class.
Should Fannin maintain his health and production, he could join the elite ranks of tight ends with a contract that rivals George Kittle's market-setting deal from 2025. With the NFL's salary cap projected to rise significantly, Fannin's future earnings could surpass $90 million, assuming a similar percentage of the cap.
The Browns' decision to let David Njoku walk and instead focus on developing Fannin seems to be paying off. Under new head coach Todd Monken, known for maximizing his top tight end's potential, Fannin is poised for success. His 72 catches, 731 yards, and six touchdowns last season are just the beginning.
Come 2028, the Browns will face several key contract negotiations, with Fannin, defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, and running back Quinshon Judkins all becoming extension eligible. Schwesinger, after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, will certainly be a priority, but Fannin's contract could be the most lucrative, thanks in part to the groundwork laid by players like Pitts and Strange.
Cleveland's strategic planning and Fannin's emerging talent could make for an exciting future as they navigate the ever-evolving tight end market.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Wont Believe Where Taylen Green Is Already Being Slotted
The Browns quarterback room has already become one of the more interesting subplots of the offseason, and Taylen Green is a big reason why. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Green arrived in Cleveland with a reputation that went well beyond his draft slot after a Combine showing that turned heads across the league and hinted at rare athletic upside for a late-round passer.
Now the conversation has shifted from how Cleveland got him to where he fits next, with the Browns carrying four quarterbacks under contract and questions lingering about whether all of them will still be around for 2026. For a front office that has usually given its draft picks time to develop, Greens long-term outlook is part of a larger roster puzzle, and it says plenty about how quickly a developmental quarterback can become a talking point in Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
National Buzz Around Andrew Berry Just Raised The Stakes In Cleveland
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CBS Sports went a step further and ranked Cleveland's offseason as the best in the NFL, a sign that the work Berry did is resonating outside the building. The praise centered on a broad collection of additions and draft picks that gave the Browns a much different look on paper, and it leaves the next question exactly where the organization wants it: whether all of that turnover can finally translate into a cleaner, more competitive season when the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have One Veteran Trade Chip Fans Arent Talking About
The Browns have a familiar kind of roster question on their hands as trade chatter starts to swirl around the defensive front. Grant Delpit gets mentioned because he is the more recognizable name, but the better conversation may actually start with Maliek Collins, a veteran interior lineman who brought real production to Cleveland last season and still fits as the kind of player contenders check on when they need help in the middle.
Collins is 31 and in the final year of his contract, which makes him more movable than a core piece with a longer runway. Cleveland would have to weigh the value of keeping a proven contributor against the possibility of turning him into a usable asset, while also considering what a deal would mean for the rotation behind him and for a young defensive line that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]