3 free agent tight ends the Cleveland Browns could affordably add

David Njoku isn’t going anywhere as TE1, but the Cleveland Browns could use an upgrade at the second spot, especially in Kevin Stefanski’s offense which often employs two tight ends. Thankfully, there are plenty of options in free agency this offseason and some could be rather affordable.

Players who are going to break the bank such as Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki, and Evan Engram are out. Also off this list will be Hayden Hurst and Robert Tonyan, who will likely look for starting jobs — and Austin Hooper, for obvious reasons.

With all that being said, here are three free-agent tight ends that Cleveland could add to their roster without ruining their salary cap situation.

Browns free agent TE option No. 3: Jordan Akins

Jordan Akins spent five seasons with the Houston Texans and for the first three years of his career, he was catching passes from Deshaun Watson. Cleveland’s current quarterback never had any issues targeting Akins, but the veteran still had his best campaign this past season.

Akins hauled in 37 receptions for 495 yards and five touchdowns. One of the few bright spots for Houston, he now enters free agency and with an entirely new coaching staff, he could be on the way out.

Reuniting with Watson would give him some comfort in making the move to Northeast Ohio. And while he’s already over the age of 30, he should have plenty left in the tank. Akins won’t offer much as a blocker but as a receiver, he could help the offense open things up.

Browns free agent TE option No. 2: O.J. Howard

A former first-round pick out of Alabama, O.J. Howard never lived up to his expectations. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he was unable to surpass Cameron Brate on the depth chart.

Howard became less involved in the offense when Rob Gronkowski joined and while he has a Super Bowl ring, he managed to play in just four games that season due to a torn Achilles. He returned in 2021 and played all 17 games but had just 14 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown.

From there, he hit the open market and landed with the Buffalo Bills on a one-year deal. This seemed like a perfect match given his talent as a pass-catcher — as well as his 4.5 speed — but it wound up being a poor fit and he was released before the season began.

Once he was on the open market, rumors suggested the Browns were going to go after Howard but they never got the chance as he quickly signed with the Texans.

Again, Howard underperformed which was disappointing since he had a phenomenal debut. In Week 1 for the Texans, he had two receptions for 38 yards — with both going for a touchdown. He didn’t score again for the rest of the season and had just eight more receptions.

Even with the numbers being what they are, Howard has all the talent in the world. Perhaps landing in Cleveland where he can play across from Njoku in a tight end-friendly offense is what he needs to finally make good on his athleticism.

Browns free agent TE option No. 1: Irv Smith, Jr.

In 2019, the Minnesota Vikings used a second-round pick (No. 50 overall) on Alabama tight end Irv Smith, Jr. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder has NFL bloodlines as his dad was a first-round pick out of Notre Dame back in 1993.

While he spent most of his career with the New Orleans Saints, he was a member of the Cleveland Browns 1999 roster and had 24 receptions and a touchdown. As for Smith, Jr., he showed out at the Scouting Combine with insane hands and a 4.64 time in the 40-yard dash.

It was enough to land him in Minnesota, where he was coached by Kevin Stefanski. Serving as the offensive coordinator, Stefanski helped Smith record 311 yards and two touchdowns on 36 receptions as a rookie.

He followed that up with a strong sophomore campaign but then missed all of 2021 due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Smith then missed nine games in 2022 due to an ankle injury.

While the injuries are concerning, they could help Cleveland land him at a discounted rate. Smith might be willing to sign a one-year “prove-it” deal and playing for Stefanski might be enticing for him as he looks to break the bank in 2024.

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