The Cleveland Browns have the luxury of a budding superstar at tight end in Harold Fannin Jr., but after moving on from David Njoku, they had a clear need to add depth behind him this offseason. They've already addressed the position in a variety of ways, including with two of their 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Browns took Cincinnati's Joe Royer in the fifth round and BYU's Carsen Ryan in the seventh. As Day 3 picks, there were never guarantees or roster promises, but Royer looked like a solid candidate to win the TE2 job in camp, given his pass-catching skills.
That may no longer be the case. Royer has missed all of training camp while tending to an undisclosed personal matter, and while the Browns have voiced support for Royer's situation, they can only afford to be so patient. Cleveland's decision to claim rookie tight end Dae'Quan Wright off waivers this week could signal the start of Plan B at a position that's been unsettled from the start of the 2026 league year.
The Browns continue to shake up the tight end room
While most of the moves have gone unnoticed, general manager Andrew Berry has kept close tabs on the tight end room this offseason. He allowed Njoku to leave, signed journeyman Jack Stoll, brought back Blake Whiteheart, drafted Royer and Ryan, and has now claimed Wright. They also still have Brenden Bates on the roster.
The Browns listed Royer as the last tight end in the pecking order on their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. Of course, nothing's set in stone at this point, but the revolving door at the position hints at the team still not being satisfied.
Tight ends have always been crucial to Todd Monken's offenses. He doesn't run 12 personnel at a high clip. His Baltimore Ravens ran the fourth-fewest plays with 12 personnel last season, but he's brought out the best in pass-catching specialists like Brock Bowers, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely.
One can only hope that he'll also work his magic with Fannin, who led the Browns' pass catchers in targets (107), receptions (72), receiving yards (731), and receiving touchdowns (6) as a rookie. But he's going to need a sidekick, and it's hard to find one on the current roster.
The Browns have been secretive about Royer's situation, which is understandable. They claim they're still by his side and supporting him through whatever he's going through, but this is a business, first and foremost, and it can be pretty cruel.
We're not going to make assumptions or pretend to know what's going on with Royer. But with the way this team has handled the position this offseason, his hopes of making the Browns' roster might be slipping away.
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