Browns' HC Todd Monken gives high praise to Harold Fannin Jr.

The Cleveland Browns may have a star in the making with tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

>While a majority of the attention has been focused on the rookie wideouts in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Fannin is poised for a massive season under newly-hired head coach Todd Monken.

>When asked about Fannin's development this offseason, Monken gave high praise to his tight end on Wednesday, claiming that he excels at gaining yards after contact.

>"[Fannin] looked really good last week. And he's still a young player, still a developing player, but what a great mindset," Monken claimed. "[Fannin] wants to be better, works awfully hard... One thing I did not know that I saw last year is his yards after contact. I didn't see that at Bowling Green; maybe I didn't study hard enough, but he is hard to tackle."

Fannin's outlook with Browns in 2026Fannin, a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has quickly become not only a top receiving threat for the Browns, but one of the best tight ends in the NFL.

>During his rookie season with the organization, the 22-year-old recorded 731 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 72 receptions. Fannin finished with the eighth-most receiving yards amongst all tight ends while playing alongside veteran David Njoku. Clearly, the Browns have felt confident enough in the rising star, as the front office decided to move on from Njoku this offseason.

>In addition to his strong praise for Fannin, Monken also gave some insight as to what his role will be on offense in 2026.

>"As [Fannin] develops his route running skills, I wouldn't say he's a 'matchup guy' yet," Monken stated. "I think he's going to continue to develop as a blocker, but if you get him the ball, he's a hard guy to bring down."

>Looking at Monken's track record with talented tight ends, the former Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator has done an excellent job of incorporating the position into his offensive scheme. Whether it was Brock Bowers during his time with the Georgia Bulldogs or the combination of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely with the Ravens, it's safe to say Fannin will be a key chess piece for Monken in 2026.

>This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns' HC Todd Monken gives high praise to Harold Fannin Jr.