The 2026 NFL Draft is officially less than 70 days away, and it’s time to start thinking about what Cleveland’s going to do at tight end behind Harold Fannin Jr. now that David Njoku won’t be returning.
It’s possible that they could look to free agency for another playmaker at tight end to pair with Fannin Jr. in 12 personnel looks, but it might be better to look for one in the draft this year, as the position looks to be stacked with talent.
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One player who looks like an excellent fit on paper is Ohio State TE Max Klare.
The 6’5”, 243-pound pass-catcher is one of the better all-around tight ends in the 2026 class, showing a good mix of route-running prowess and blocking ability over the past two seasons at both Purdue and Ohio State. He needs to add more strength at the next level to handle NFL defensive linemen more effectively, but the effort is there on every blocking rep.
His alignment versatility was on full display for the Buckeyes as well, as they consistently used him as a wing, offset in the backfield, in the slot, and as a traditional in-line “Y” in 2025. This is significant because Todd Monken loves to use multiple tight ends in multiple alignments.
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Due to his overall athleticism and surprising speed, he’s able to push defenses vertically between the hashes and knows when to throttle down to sit in vacated areas against zone coverage. It’s one thing to be a good route-runner as a tight end, but it’s another to be heady enough to recognize weak spots in coverage and modify the routes mid-play to make things easier for the quarterback.
With how often Monken utilizes the tight end position in his offense, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Browns go after a tight end in April, and earlier in the draft than some think.
Current NFL Draft projection: Rounds 3-4