Cleveland Browns: Who’s left behind starter Austin Hooper if David Njoku is traded?
By Josh Brown
2. Stephen Carlson
Princeton graduate Stephen Carlson is the tight end currently on the depth chart that could benefit most if the Browns did decide to grant David Njoku’s request for a trade.
Carlson caught five of the seven passes thrown to him in 2019, scoring a touchdown on his first one in a 21-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carlson flashed enough last season to warrant being the lead candidate as the fourth tight end with a chance to overtake rookie Harrison Bryant as the third tight end.
If the Browns trade Njoku, it likely makes Carlson a lock as the potential second/third tight end on the roster.
While Carlson showed he could bring the receiving needed to excel at the position, blocking could be a different story. At only 6-4 240 pounds, his frame is a bit small, and he could end up labeled a ‘tweener.’
He will need to prove he can at least hold up as a blocker if he is going to move up the depth chart. Again, all of this is if the Browns decide to trade Njoku and go with who they have. Could he prove to be good enough to push the new kid down the depth chart?