Uh-oh. They're trade speculatin' over at Bleacher Report, and you know what that means. Yep, we're going to get about a dozen "Dynamic Tight End Linked to Browns" aggregation stories when the "link" is just some guy at B/R's national desk dreaming up ways to fill the June content void.
Specifically, the article suggests a Greg Newsome-for-Kyle Pitts swap, a deal of two high draft picks in their fifth year. This might make some level of sense, as the Falcons are unlikely to extend Pitts, and many have the presumption that the Browns might feel the same way about Newsome. Newsome's cap hit is about $3 million more than Pitts's, and Jack Duffin didn't immediately rebel when presented with the notion.
Additionally, the thinking may be that the Browns have Martin Emerson available to take over for Newsome. At that level, sure.
Well, I will show my webdorkian powers by pointing out why this speculation makes no sense whatsoever, and it will not even rely on propping up Greg Newsome in what is likely his last year with the team.
REASON 1: WE ALREADY HAVE A BAD RUN BLOCKING TIGHT END
With the Browns ostensibly heading towards an offense more focused on running the football (at least as indicated by the team's decisions during the NFL Draft), the Browns are going to need run-blocking production from their tight end. Pitts will not provide it.
Pitts' run blocking has never been strong, and the numbers aren't improving over time. According to PFF ($), the tight end's run-blocking grade was just 46 in 2024, albeit better than 2023's horrific 31.2 grade. He blocked better, per their reviews, in his rookie and sophomore campaigns, both of which were rated over 50.
Still, according to Warren Sharp, Pitts' run-blocking was #75th among all tight ends.
Harold Fannin, for his part, has never been known as a top-tier run blocker, but is at least young and can still develop. This leads us to...
Kyle Pitts
Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts (Photo: Getty)
REASON 2: CLOGGING UP DEVELOPMENT
The Browns invested a third-round pick in BGSU's Harold Fannin, a 20-year-old with considerable potential. Fannin lit up the field in 2024, with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and ten touchdowns. Popular among Browns fans (and the OBR staff) as a potential pick before the draft, ESPN called Fannin a "Day Two Sleeper". However, one would have to be positively narcoleptic not to be aware of a player who holds top ten FBS career statistics for tight end receiving yards, receptions, yards per game, and more. Not to mention being BGSU's first-ever Consensus All-American.
Strike that "Day Two Sleeper" thing. It's more like "Day 2 If You're Comatose-er".
So, what would the acquisition of Pitts do? Well, it would slow the development of a player with more promise than Pitts has at this point, with greater upside. The Browns love young players, and the 20-year-old Fannin was a substantial addition. To see him riding the bench for a far more costly trade acquisition makes no sense.