Harrison Bryant

Bryant enters the final year of the four-year rookie contract he signed after being taken in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. He benefitted in an offense that featured multiple tight ends, scoring three touchdowns in each of his first two seasons and achieved career highs in receptions (31) and targets (42) when moving up to second on the depth chart in 2022. The addition of tight end Jordan Akins, who has significant history with quarterback Deshaun Watson, means Bryant may be pushed back down to No. 3. He's not flashy nor is he considered an asset as a blocker, but Bryant is a capable tight end who will be part of a new pass-centric offense.

With the Austin Hooper era in Cleveland over, Bryant moves up to the second on depth chart behind David Njoku, the recipient of a four-year contract extension this offseason. It's not unfamiliar territory for Bryant who had the second-most snaps of the position group as a rookie in 2020. He was a dependable target for Baker Mayfield the last two seasons, catching 68 percent of balls thrown his way, including 75 percent last season. Bryant's six touchdowns during that time matches Njoku's. As long as Njoku is healthy and available, steady volume may not be there for Bryant, but if Njoku misses time for any reason, Bryant could yield fantasy dividends.

The Browns play multiple tight ends, so there was a good chance that Bryant, a fourth-round draft pick in 2020, was going to get his chances, along with veteran David Njoku, behind No. 1 Austin Hooper. By midseason, the rookie routinely played more than Njoku and finished the season with more snaps, targets and catches than the veteran. When Hooper sat out two games, it was Bryant who started in his place. Behind Hooper on a run heavy team that will have Odell Beckham back healthy, Bryant may be hard-pressed to significantly improve on last season's output (24/238/3 in 15 games) unless the team elects to move Njoku.

Bryant, the regining John Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end in college, was a fourth-round draft pick and enters an organization with a head coach that values tight ends as reveivers. That's a good thing for Bryant, who is undersized and may struggle as a traditional blocker. He has a history at Flordia Atlantic University that makes him a nice fit in Cleveland. He played multiple positions at FAU, splitting out wide or in the slot, and lining up at H-back. Austin Hooper and David Njoku are ahead of him on the depth chart, so this may be a learning year for Bryant.