The Browns spent the offseason loading up on offense, but the player who may matter most in 2026 is already in the building.
Harold Fannin Jr. flashed as a rookie, and the 22-year-old tight end put together the kind of debut that makes it easy to see why Cleveland will keep leaning on him. He finished with 72 catches, 731 yards and six touchdowns, pacing the team by 22 receptions, 129 receiving yards and two scores. When the Browns needed someone to keep the chains moving, Fannin Jr. was the answer.
That’s why, even with new faces coming in, he still looks like the centerpiece of the passing game. Cleveland added offensive lineman Spencer Fano and wide receiver KC Concepcion in the draft, then brought in more veteran help in free agency. Those additions may draw attention early, especially in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Fannin Jr. is the one who already proved he can carry real volume.
The depth chart behind him doesn’t offer much resistance. The Browns used the No. 170 pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Joe Royer out of Cincinnati, though he hasn’t been seen in quite a while.
Two rounds later, they took BYU’s Carsen Ryan at No. 248, and he’s currently third on the depth chart. Ryan may end up seeing more action as the season goes on, but first he has to pass Blake Whiteheart.
Whiteheart, 26, hasn’t made much noise as a pass-catching threat, but he does know the system. He’s been with Cleveland since 2024 and has appeared in 28 games over the past two seasons.
For now, that leaves Fannin Jr. sitting on top of the room and, by extension, on top of the target pecking order. With rookie wideouts Denzel Boston and Concepcion still something of unknowns, and more experienced receivers Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond still needing to become more consistent, Fannin Jr. stands out as the clearest No. 1 option.
He may also be on track to become Deshaun Watson’s favorite target. Watson won the starting job over second-year pro Shedeur Sanders, and Fannin Jr. said the two have already started building chemistry this offseason.
"It's been really nice," Fannin was quoted as saying in an article by USA Today. "It's crazy to think about because I used to actually watch him on TV when I was younger, and now we are here... [we are] just getting reps and talking through things, seeing how he sees things and how he wants me to adjust."
If that connection carries into the season, Cleveland’s offense has a chance to look a lot more dangerous. The Browns get their first look at Fannin Jr. in 2026 on Sunday, Sept. 13, when they face the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., at 1:00 p.m. EST.
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