2024 Browns Free Agency Frenzy: Tight End

The tight end room going into 2023 looked exceptional for the Cleveland Browns. David Njoku was expected to have a breakout season. Harrison Bryant had three minimally productive seasons but was a steady blocker and a good Red Zone option. Jordan Akins was brought over from the Houston Texans who was once one of QB Deshaun Watson’s favorite targets.

The stage was set. But as the season unfolded, it became clear that this group was good cop/bad cop.

During the 2023 offseason, Bryant was given a restructured deal. That is usually a warning sign to the player that management is questioning your roster spot. He has the size needed for an NFL tight end standing 6’-5” and a beefy 230 pounds. Now he is a free agent.

Bryant regressed in production quite a bit with just 13 catches for a paltry 81 yards and three touchdowns. What did the Browns get for the $4,833,028.00 they compensated Bryant? They paid $54,304 per catch, $6,110 per yard, and $483,303 per touchdown. His four-year grand total with the Browns is 89 receptions for 791 yards and 10 scores with 11 drops. The 791 yards should be a number that Bryant envisioned to achieve each season and not for four years.

Akins never did have any kind of life on the field. He has one more year on his two-year deal, but the Browns can save $2 million by cutting him loose.

Akins had only 23 targets with 15 receptions for 132 yards and zero scores. No, this is not a misprint. Not a bad payday for $1.1 million.

Njoku became one of the few bright lights for the offense. He was named to his first Pro Bowl and started 16 games with 123 targets with 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns. He was a favorite target of QB Joe Flacco late in the season and gained valuable real estate after the catch. He also had receptions that converted 35 first downs.

The free agency period begins on March 13, but the legal tampering phase is March 11-12.

So, it appears both Bryant and Akins will be employed elsewhere this year which means new blood must be brought in via the draft or through free agency. Dalton Schultz of the Houston Texans is the top-ranked tight end in this year’s free agency class, but he will likely fetch in the neighborhood of $26 million for a multi-year deal, so that’s unlikely Berry will keep two expensive tight ends.