CLEVELAND, Ohio — Harold Fannin Jr. will continue to wear brown and orange and remain in Ohio. The Browns took the tight end from Bowling Green with the No. 67 overall pick Friday night in the third round of the NFL Draft.
The Canton McKinley High School graduate is Bowling Green’s first consensus All-American. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder declared for the draft after his junior season. He led the nation’s tight ends in numerous categories, including 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns on 117 receptions.
Here is what draft scouts and analysts had to say about Fannin, including his strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths, according to Pro Football Focus — “Has a playmaker mentality when the ball is in his hands” and “undersized but competitive as a run blocker.”
Weaknesses, according to PFF — “Requires gather steps when truly changing direction” and “lateral stiffness limits pass-blocking ability and route diversity.”
Full PFF scouting report — “At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Fannin looks like a player who could play tight end on one side of the ball and linebacker on the other. He has an explosive first step to get out of his stance inline or in the slot. His hands are strong and reliable with catch percentages above 90% all three years at BGSU. He has a playmaker’s mentality after the catch and maximizes his ROI every time he touches the ball.
“He is a bit stiff in his lateral movements from route running to agility. That does show up in some lack of separation and diversity in his routes. However, as a vertical receiver, he is still tough to contain — even against good competition like Texas A&M and Penn State in 2024. His weight profile is lighter, but he is a competitive blocker with good strength at the POA.”
Cleveland Browns select TE Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round of the NFL Draft, April 25, 2025
Louis Riddick of ESPN — “This guy is a flat-out baller. He isn’t going to wow you with his testing numbers, but man can he play. Competitive at the line of scrimmage. Catches the ball cleanly and his run after the catch, he is a problem with his competitiveness against defensive backs. If you don’t square up and wrap up, he is going to embarrass you. He is going to fight for everything he gets. He reminds me of a Baltimore tight end named Isaiah Likely.”
Dane Brugler of The Athletic — “Fannin is somewhat of an unconventional prospect. He is awkwardly athletic with stiff, restricting movements, but he plays with straight-line explosiveness, outstanding tracking skills and threatening run-after-catch ability. He fits best as a hybrid H or F tight end and offers three-down potential.”
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com — “Enigmatic prospect featuring record-breaking single-season catch production despite a straight-legged playing style. Fannin’s lack of functional bend forces him on more linear tracks and cuts his route tree in half, but it doesn’t keep him from getting around the field and through the pattern with good speed. Fannin’s hands are automatic and he’s a competitive runner after the catch, but he needs to prove he can beat tight press-man coverage. He won’t block much, but his ability to stretch the field from the slot and make the tough catches give him a shot as a potential TE2 with upside.”
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