The NFL season is officially underway, and the Cleveland Browns are geared up for their Week One showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While all eyes have been on the rookie wideouts this offseason, it’s 2025 third-round pick Harold Fannin Jr. who’s suddenly got Jacksonville’s head coach Liam Coen gushing. Coen didn’t hold back, saying he’s “a huge fan of him” ahead of their matchup.
This Dude Was “Super Underrated” Last Year
Coen’s got serious respect for Fannin, claiming he “loved him coming out of Bowling Green” and thought he was “super underrated last year.” The Jaguars coach even highlighted a specific play where Fannin went toe-to-toe with Micah Parsons, blocking him on a duo in-line and holding his own for a stalemate. That’s big-time praise for a second-year tight end!
Fannin quickly became a crucial part of the Browns’ offense in his rookie season. The 22-year-old playmaker racked up an insane 72 receptions for 731 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He led all rookie tight ends in receiving yards and even ranked seventh in yards after the catch (352) at his position in 2025. Coen thinks this style of play is a perfect fit for Todd Monken’s offense, noting Fannin’s ability to flex out for wheel and option routes, then go wide as a single receiver running daggers and 20-yard ins.
What’s at Stake for Cleveland’s Offense
With all this hype surrounding Fannin heading into this season, Browns coach Todd Monken has to figure out how to balance his passing attack with rookie receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Luckily for quarterback Deshaun Watson, Fannin’s incredible yards-after-the-catch ability makes him a perfect security blanket.
It’s clear the Jaguars are game-planning for Fannin, and Week One is going to be a huge test for him and the Browns’ new offensive balance. Can Monken use his versatile tight end to his full potential? We’re about to find out! And hey, speaking of wins, our Seahawks kicked off the season with a massive victory, too, taking down the New England Patriots 13-10! Let’s go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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