The Cleveland Browns knew what they had in tight end Harold Fannin Jr., the world just didn’t catch up until later.

There weren’t a whole lot of expectations externally for a third rounder who was drafted out of Bowling Green. A mid-major tight end? Perhaps you can let him watch the Pro Bowler David Njoku and learn from the veteran.

Funny thing is, Fannin has actually received more targets, receptions and receiving yards than his senior. What’s even more wild is that Fannin has actually played 17 less passing snaps than Njoku.

So, what’s the catch here? 

None whatsoever. Fannin has not only shown that where you went to college doesn’t dictate how well you can play at the next level, just how advanced you are.

And boy was Fannin advanced.

The Canton, Ohio native started out as a safety, but the second he found his way to Bowling Green, coach Scot Loeffler envisioned him in a totally different stratosphere.

“(Loeffler) had that forward thought as to is the quintessential tight end ‘A-position.’ That’s what it’s called, the tight end A-position for his offense,” Fannin’s high school head coach told Cleveland.com. “It was a perfect marriage.”

Fast forward three years, he earned the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year, and was also voted as an All American. 

We may be two weeks into the NFL season, but it’s impossible to ignore how much of a seasoned veteran Fannin has looked so far.

Alex Kay of Bleacher Report wrote a list of NFL rookies who have already looked like steals, and Fannin was second on the list behind Washington Commanders running back Bill Croskey-Merritt.

“Harold Fannin Jr. might be the best of the Browns' first-year bunch,” Kay wrote.” He may not have been nearly as hyped as fellow rookies such as second-rounder Quinshon Judkins or fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders, but the unheralded Bowling Green product has gotten off to a blazing start to his professional career.”

Not only that, he zeroed in on how Fannin’s resurgence may make the Browns’ decision to move on from Njoku that much easier.

Njoku, who turns 30 next July, would be scheduled to have a cap hit of over $24 million for the 2026 season. Should the Browns decide to cut Njoku, it would end up saving them a little over $10 million.

And for a franchise that’s desperate for saving money because of the Deshaun Watson albatross contract, moving on from Njoku makes the most sense financially. 

And if Fannin continues to play the way he’s been playing? The move from the nine year veteran will be that much easier.