Browns: Harold Fannin Jr. college highlights and what he brings to NFL
Browns: Harold Fannin Jr. college highlights and what he brings to NFL
The Browns stuck with offense with their fourth selection at No. 67 overall, as they took Bowling Green State tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Out of Canton, Ohio, Fannin exploded in his final season, where he led the FBS in catches and yards. He has great hands, after-the-catch traits, and the ability to win against defenses on deep or in-breaking routes. Fannin's catch radius is massive, and he has no issue playing through hits.
He's just 20 years old and had eye-popping production in his final year at Bowling Green, setting almost every tight end receiving record for the school. Fannin caught 180 passes for 1,555 yards and had elite games against Penn State, where he went for 137 and 145 yards, respectively.
On the downsides, Fannin is a bit undersized for a full-time, inline tight end who has to take on big NFL defenders. He occasionally struggled blocking in space, and he will likely struggle to consistently win against NFL-sized defensive ends. He did do well as a lead blocker in zone concepts, but he will need to add size to evolve into a full-time inline tight end.
With the likelihood that the Browns increase their 12 personnel uptick in reverting to a more wide-zone centric offense, there was a clear hole at tight end next to David Njoku, Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and now Quinshon Judkins. Fannin is an incredibly versatile pass-catcher who will be an intriguing weapon for Cleveland's offense.
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