Browns HC Todd Monken Could Unlock TE Harold Fannin After Great Rookie Season

Monken's history of developing tight ends could help Fannin build on his promising debut year.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:22pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and positioning of a football player, representing the versatile role of a tight end in an NFL offense.A cubist interpretation of a tight end's dynamic role in an NFL offense, reflecting the potential for Browns TE Harold Fannin to thrive under new coach Todd Monken.Cleveland Today

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had a strong rookie season in 2025, and new head coach Todd Monken's track record of working well with tight ends could help Fannin take another step forward in 2026. Monken has previously coached standout tight ends like Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, and he has even compared Fannin to Georgia's Brock Bowers, another talented tight end. With the Browns lacking offensive weapons, Monken will likely find ways to maximize Fannin's versatility and production.

Why it matters

The Browns offense struggled overall in 2025, but Fannin emerged as a reliable target in the passing game. If Monken can unlock Fannin's full potential, it could provide a much-needed boost to the Browns' offense and help them be more competitive in the AFC North.

The details

Fannin, a third-round pick in 2025, showed promise as a rookie, using his size and athleticism to make plays in the passing game. Monken, who previously coached tight ends at Georgia and with the Baltimore Ravens, has a history of getting the most out of players at that position. He helped turn Mark Andrews into a three-time Pro Bowler and got a career year out of Isaiah Likely in 2024. Monken has even gone as far as to compare Fannin to Georgia standout Brock Bowers, though that may be an ambitious comparison. With the Browns lacking offensive firepower, Monken will likely find ways to feature Fannin more, whether that's lining him up in the slot or creating mismatches with his versatility.

  • Fannin was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
  • Fannin had a promising rookie season in 2025, emerging as a reliable target in the Browns' passing game.
  • Monken was hired as the Browns' new head coach in 2026.

The players

Todd Monken

The new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, known for his ability to develop tight ends during his previous coaching stops.

Harold Fannin Jr.

A third-round draft pick of the Browns in 2025, Fannin had a strong rookie season and is poised for a potential breakout year in 2026 under Monken's guidance.

Mark Andrews

A three-time Pro Bowl tight end who had success under Monken's coaching with the Baltimore Ravens.

Isaiah Likely

A tight end who had a career year in 2024 while playing for Monken with the Ravens.

Brock Bowers

A standout tight end at the University of Georgia, whom Monken has compared Fannin to.

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What they’re saying

“Monken went as far as to compare him to current Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, which might seem extreme, but Monken coached Bowers during his time in Georgia.”

— Curtiss Brown, Author

What’s next

If the Browns choose to draft another tight end in this year's draft, the one that makes sense is Georgia's Oscar Delp, who also has college experience with Monken. The Delp/Fannin duo could be similar to the Andrews/Likely pairing that Monken has had success with in the past.

The takeaway

Fannin's promising rookie season, combined with Monken's track record of developing tight ends, suggests the Browns could have a breakout star on their hands. If Monken can maximize Fannin's versatility and create mismatches, it could provide a much-needed boost to the Browns' offense in 2026.