Rookie minicamp has come and gone, and NFL news has largely quieted down aside from the schedule releases earlier this week. Teams across the league are conducting voluntary workouts for the next few weeks before OTAs begin at the end of May. Now is the time when teams start to see how rookies fit in with the veterans, and teams work on signing their draft picks to their rookie contracts.
The Browns have already signed two of their seven picks from this year; their second round selection, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and their fourth round pick, running back Dylan Sampson. Today the Browns announced that they have also signed their third round selection, tight end Harold Fannin Jr, out of Bowling Green.
From Bowling Green to Browns town, Harold Fannin Jr. makes it official ?️@crosscountrymtg | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/9DEREdAn90
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 16, 2025
Fannin, who is only 20 years old, will now officially join a tight end room that consists of Pro Bowler David Njoku, who is on the last year of his deal, and some developmental depth. Fannin's addition helps immediately raise the floor of that room while offering an exciting potential ceiling as he develops against NFL competition. If he can translate his receiving ability to the pros while also improving his blocking, he and Njoku could form a dangerous one-two punch.
At BGSU, Fannin led the entire FBS in receptions with 117 and receiving yards with 1,555. Those numbers set new FBS records for a tight end. His receiving yards per game, 119.6, and receptions per game, 9, also set FBS records. He also added 10 touchdowns. Fannin became the first consensus All-American for BGSU while also earning the MAC MVP and MAC Offensive Player of the Year. He stood out against bigger competition as well, posting 145 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M and 137 yards with a touchdown against Penn State.
Fannin was a prospect many Browns fans were drawn to during the draft process. On top of his incredible production, Fannin is a local kid who played high school football for McKinley High School in Canton who stayed in state to play for Bowling Green. As the draft cycle progressed, Fannin to the Browns was a pick that just felt like it was going to happen. Now that he's in Cleveland, he'll have a chance to contribute immediately for a team that needs a boost in its passing offense.
Now that the team has signed Fannin, they still have their first round pick, defensive tackle Mason Graham, their other second round pick, running back Quinshon Judkins, and their rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to sign. Judkins may take a bit longer after the Texans set a new precedent of fully guaranteed second round contracts, but I don't expect it to drag on into the summer.