The Cleveland Browns have a new head coach who specializes in transforming offensive units into elite groups.
Todd Monken took an Oklahoma State unit from a #88 ranking to #11. He was part of an LSU offensive attack that went from #42 to #9. While the head coach of Southern Miss, they ranked #112, and in his final season, that group had vaulted to the #13 offense in the nation. When Monken was named OC at Georgia, their offense was #49 nationally and then became the #5 unit.
RELATED: DEEP DIVE INTO
MONKEN’S COACHING STOPS
The Browns’ offensive output the past two years has been pathetic. They ranked in the bottom third in just about every rushing and passing category.
A good portion of Monken’s offensive scheme is the use of the tight end position. Correction: Make those multiple tight ends. His offense uses a lot of pre-snap motion that will feature a physical run game coupled with an Air Raid standard structure. Monken does use some varied consortia, such as 21 personnel, but the run game is key, accompanied by a big play passing assault.
Both of these aspects require the use of the tight end, whether it means line blocking or being a good target for passing yards.
Cleveland drafted a good tight end last year with the nation’s leading receiver, Harold Fannin. He then led the Browns in receiving yards (731), targets (107), and receptions (72). David Njoku, Blake Whiteheart, and Brenden Bates are all free agents. Practice squad guys Sal Cannella and Caden Prieskorn were released after the season and then inked to reserve/future contracts.
Njoku has announced that he will not be returning to the team that drafted him.
This means the roster is in dire need of a seasoned veteran at tight end for Monken’s new offense.
The NFL free agency period officially begins March 9th with a three-day tampering period prior. All 2025 NFL player contracts will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time. The 2026 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
The two best tight ends in their year’s free agency period are Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Atlanta Falcons Kyle Pitts. Both would become great additions to the Browns’ roster, but very expensive. Another tight end the Browns should look hard at signing during the free agency frenzy is Isaiah Likely.
TE Isaiah LiKely
Baltimore Ravens
PFF ranking: 69.1
NFL draft: 2022 Round 4, pick #141 (Ravens)
Accolades: Second Team All-American (2021), two-time First Team All-Sun Belt (2020, 2021), Third Team All-Sun Belt (2019)
2025 season: 7 starts, 27 receptions, 36 targets, 307 yards, 1 touchdown, 11 first down catches, 11.4 yards per reception average, YAC 117, 488 snaps (57%)
Likely is a good athlete with upside and is just 26 years old, which means he can evolve into Monken’s offense for a good while. He did experience a down year in 2025 due mainly to a lingering foot issue suffered in training camp that required surgery.
Despite a less-than-productive season, Likely remains an athletic tight end with high upside with a manageable pricetag. His base salary last year was $3.4 million.
The 2024 season displayed his talents a bit better when he played over 600 snaps and was a more productive member of the offense. He had 58 targets that year with six touchdowns. The fact that his production reduced should enable Cleveland to get him at a lower contract rate if this is the tight end they are targeting. He maintained a 114.1 passer rating when targeted and averaged 4.5 yards after catch per reception.
When completely healthy, Likely has decent foot quickness, is a good route runner, and has soft hands. Very good lateral agility and is versatile in that he can line up at tight end, H-back, put in motion, and line up in the backfield or along the line. Good body control.
In his rookie year, he had issues with drops, which he recorded six that season. However, in the past three years, he has had six combined, including only one last year. He has 740 YAC since coming into the league for a 6.1 yards average.
He does have a knack for tracking the ball in flight and is a good leaper. It should be noted that Likely played for Monken in Baltimore, so the familiarity is there for both coach and player.
