Browns: 5 most underpaid players for the upcoming 2021 season
By Chad Porto
3. Harrison Bryant
The 23-year-old Harrison Bryant showed a lot of promise as a rookie and may be poised to supplant everyone else on the team and take over the duties as the number one tight end, that is unless Austin Hooper can return to form as he played in Atlanta.
Bryant showed great hands and tremendous athleticism while being a surprisingly effective blocker for someone with his slender frame. That said, consistency as both a blocker and receiver was his biggest issue in 2020.
He’s got tremendous upside and considering he’s only costing the Browns under a million dollars in 2021 and just over $1 million in both 2022 and 2023, it really shows you that the Browns will have a viable option to throw the ball to for a while. If Bryant can stay healthy and continue to grow his game, not only will he be the team’s number one tight end, but he could end up being a legit great in the NFL at his position.
That’s his ceiling and admittedly, he has a long way to go to reach it, but his skill set is impressive. All he has to do is figure out the best way to improve his game, continue to live up to the lofty expectations and the Browns will be set at tight end for years to come.
Granted, the Browns are on the hook for Hooper’s contract regardless, and it seems unlikely they’ll be able to get out from underneath it anytime soon.