Browns Went All In On Six Tight Ends, and Jake Stoll Is Already Facing the Axe
Alright, Seattle fam, listen up! We’re talking NFL drama, and even if it's happening way back in Cleveland, it's a wild ride that proves nothing is guaranteed in this league. Remember just a bit ago when the Browns signed tight end Jack Stoll, a blocking specialist, to a one-year, veteran minimum deal? It looked like a savvy, complementary move after David Njoku left via free agency. Well, hold onto your Seahawks jerseys, because Stoll’s roster spot, which seemed like a done deal, is now anything but guaranteed after voluntary offseason workouts and mandatory minicamp. Seriously, what in the world happened?
The Cleveland Tight End Rollercoaster Just Kept Climbing
The Browns actually should be hyped about their tight end room overall for the upcoming 2026 season. They’ve got a legit rising star in Harold Fannin Jr., a second-year pro who was a Pro Bowl snub last year. This dude led the team in catches, yards, and touchdown grabs after being a third-round pick out of Bowling Green. He's the undisputed starter, no question there. After Njoku skipped town, the Browns went into full restock mode. They brought back Blake Whiteheart, added Stoll, and then drafted two more tight ends, Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan. Oh, and they tendered Brenden Bates back in mid-March. So, yeah, the room got crowded, fast.
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But here’s where it gets wild for Stoll. Less than two weeks after his signing was announced, the Browns went and re-signed Whiteheart, a guy they could have kept with an exclusive rights free agent tender way earlier. That was the first red flag. Then came the 2026 NFL Draft. They snagged Royer in the fifth round and Ryan in the seventh. Suddenly, our boy Stoll, who was signed to fill a specific blocking need, found himself in a six-tight end cluster. Even for a team that loves running multiple tight end sets, six is just too many, especially since Cleveland is looking to run more three- and four-wide receiver sets this season. Someone's gotta go, right?
Who Stays and Who Goes in Cleveland’s Tight End Room?
Beyond Fannin Jr., who is locked in as the top guy, every other spot is basically a cage match. Joe Royer, drafted in the fifth round, projects as a primary pass-catching tight end. This guy broke Travis Kelce’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end at Cincinnati in 2024. The Browns are counting on him to step into Njoku’s former role right alongside Fannin. And then there’s Carsen Ryan, a seventh-rounder who looks like a super versatile piece, able to line up at different spots, even fullback sometimes. His draft status, plus his skillset, gives him a leg up. With Whiteheart already back and Bates tendered, it's a tight squeeze. Stoll, the blocking specialist on a minimal one-year deal, is suddenly looking like the odd man out in a very crowded room.
So, what does this mean for the Browns? They’ve clearly prioritized youth and versatility, and it looks like Stoll’s brief tenure might be ending before the real action even begins. Keep an eye on the cuts coming out of camp. It’s a stark reminder that in the NFL, you're always fighting for your spot, even when you think you landed one. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.