Honestly, it’s wild how often the NFL gets it wrong. We spend months obsessing over guys from Alabama or Georgia, yet a kid from Bowling Green absolutely shatters FBS records and still finds himself sliding into the third round. That was the story for Harold Fannin Jr.
He didn't just play well in the MAC. He dominated.
The Harold Fannin draft profile was always a bit of a paradox for scouts. On one hand, you had a guy who finished his 2024 college season with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards. For a tight end, those aren't just good numbers—they're historic. In fact, he set the all-time FBS single-season records for tight ends in both categories. But scouts looked at the "BGSU" on his helmet and the 241-pound frame and hesitated. They wondered if he was a "tweener." Too small to block NFL defensive ends, too slow to be a pure wideout.
The Cleveland Browns eventually pulled the trigger at pick 67 in the 2025 NFL Draft. And boy, did that look like a steal about six weeks into his rookie year.
Scouting the "Queen on the Chessboard"
Browns GM Andrew Berry famously called Fannin the "queen on the chessboard." It’s a catchy phrase, but it actually describes his game perfectly. He isn't the guy you park on the end of the line to drive a 270-pound defensive end into the dirt. If you do that, you're wasting him.
Fannin’s value comes from his versatility. At Bowling Green, he was essentially their entire offense. He lined up in the slot, out wide, as a fullback, and even took handoffs. He wasn't just a pass catcher; he was a playmaker who happened to be listed as a tight end.
📖 Related: New Jersey Giants Football Explained: Why Most People Still Get the "Home Team" Wrong
The Physicality Question
Let’s look at the measurements.
He stands 6'3" and weighs around 241 pounds. In the modern NFL, that's almost identical to Sam LaPorta or even a slightly bulkier Trey McBride. His 40-yard dash at the Combine was a 4.71. That’s not "blazing," sure. But his 3-cone drill (6.97) and short shuttle (4.39) showed the real story: elite short-area quickness.
Scouts often miss the forest for the trees. They see a 4.7 and think "slow." They ignore the fact that the guy has a 96.1 PFF grade and broke 34 tackles in a single season.
He’s a "ball-in-hand" player. Most tight ends catch the ball and fall over for four yards. Fannin catches the ball and turns into a running back. He has this weird, slippery contact balance where he just bounces off linebackers. It’s why he was able to put up 8 receptions for 135 yards against a Penn State defense loaded with NFL talent. He didn't care about the logo on the other side.
The Blocking Debate: Real or Overblown?
If you read any Harold Fannin draft profile from early 2025, the "weakness" section was always the same. "Lacks strength for in-line blocking." "Needs to develop functional power."
👉 See also: Nebraska Cornhuskers Women's Basketball: What Really Happened This Season
Basically, people thought he’d be a liability in the run game.
Is he a mauler? No. But he’s a "movement" blocker. He’s excellent at getting to the second level and sealing off safeties or nickel corners. PFF actually had him as a top-graded run-blocking tight end among the high-volume pass catchers. It’s about effort and angles. Fannin plays with a high motor. He fights. In Kevin Stefanski’s offense, that’s exactly what they needed—someone who could chip an edge rusher and then immediately leak out into the flat for a 15-yard gain.
Comparison: Who is He, Really?
People love the Brock Bowers comparison, but it’s not quite right. Bowers is a different level of athlete. Fannin is more like a hybrid of Sam LaPorta and maybe a bit of Isaiah Likely. He has the route-running nuance of a veteran.
- Hands: Elite. Only five drops on 180 career college catches.
- Contested Catches: He won over 54% of his 50/50 balls in 2024.
- Vision: He finds soft spots in zones like he has a GPS in his helmet.
Why He Succeeded Where Others Failed
Most "small school" prospects struggle with the jump in speed. Fannin didn't. He finished his rookie year in Cleveland as the team's leading receiver with 72 catches for 731 yards and 6 touchdowns.
How?
✨ Don't miss: Nebraska Basketball Women's Schedule: What Actually Matters This Season
He was prepared. At Bowling Green, they used him in a pro-style way. He had to learn how to read coverages because every defensive coordinator in the MAC was game-planning specifically to stop him. When you’re the only threat on the field, you learn how to get open even when the defense knows the ball is coming to you.
He also stayed local. Being a Canton native and going to McKinley High, the move to Cleveland was seamless. He didn't have to deal with the "culture shock" that sinks some rookies. He just showed up and played football.
What to Expect Next
If you're looking at Fannin for dynasty fantasy football or just as a fan, the ceiling is a perennial Pro Bowler. He’s already shown he can produce even with "volatile" quarterback play. By the end of 2025, he was eclipsing franchise rookie records and putting up 100-yard games against teams like the Titans.
His route running is only going to get sharper. He’s already arguably a top-10 receiving tight end in the league by the numbers. If he adds another 5-10 pounds of muscle without losing that 6.97-second 3-cone agility, he’s going to be a nightmare for defensive coordinators for a decade.
Actionable Insights for Evaluating Tight End Prospects:
- Look past the 40 time: Short-area quickness (3-cone) is a much better indicator for tight end success than top-end speed.
- Production vs. Power 4: Always check how a small-school prospect performed against ranked teams. Fannin's games against Texas A&M and Penn State were the biggest green flags in his profile.
- Tackles Broken: For YAC-heavy tight ends, look for forced missed tackles. It’s a stat that translates to the NFL much better than "size."
- Target Share: If a tight end has a 30%+ target share in college, they are essentially a WR1 in a big body. Don't overthink it.