Ranking and grading every tight end on the Cleveland Browns ahead of training camp

Positional Grade

Overall, the Cleveland Browns have a lot of unknowns at the tight end position. Even at the top with David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. It’s Njoku’s sixth season and we still don’t know what he brings to the table. That’s partly due to the mismanagement of the organization.

While it’s often cited with Baker Mayfield, Njoku has also played under four head coaches and a countless number of positional coaches and offensive coordinators. That’s not the issue for Njoku, however, the issue is that with each new head coach, he was given different tasks.

Under Hue Jackson, he split time with Seth Devalve but under Greg Williams, he let his tight end be the primary receiving option alongside a healthy Jarvis Landry. That duo and Mayfield thrived in that offense. Then Freddie Kitchens came in, tinkered with the offense, and the whole thing went bust. Njoku got in the dog-house, Landry got hurt and never really recovered and Mayfield was forced to learn a whole new offense.

Then Stefanski came in and again saddled Njoku with partners in crime, this time in Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant, taking away reps from Njoku. Now Hooper is gone and Bryant is the obvious backup now to a more wide receiver-focused offense. That means Njoku is now the guy and we still don’t if he can be, but yet he’s being paid like he is.

His contract doesn’t get problematic until year three, thankfully, but no one can say with certainty that Njoku is ready to be a Top 10 guy at his position just yet.

His issues as a player aren’t even just about quarterback play, Njoku has a tendency to drag in his routes and drop easy passes. He also gets stifled off of his releases more than people want to acknowledge. In a timing offense like the Browns ran under Mayfield, this sunk so many plays. Yet, with Deshaun Watson, the Browns are hoping Watson’s legs extend plays more and allow guys to find spots to get open. This is where Njoku could shine.

As for Bryant, it’s unlikely he’ll ever live up to his lofty billing. He came out of college as a mid-round selection but carrying the mantle of the best college tight end. He’ll probably only ever be the second guy on a team, but if Njoku struggles, he should have a shot to prove his worth. Just what that ends up looking is anyone’s guess.

The Browns have no viable tight ends after those two men. So this is a very weak-looking portion of the roster.

Overall Position Grade: C-