During this year’s free agency cycle and 2026 NFL draft, all four AFC North teams made significant moves to add talent to their rosters. While more additions are still possible over the next few months, everyone’s core players are mostly set ahead of the 2026 season.
How do the different positional groups in the division stack up to one another? Let’s rank the AFC North squads by position, continuing with tight end.
1. Cleveland Browns
Starters: Harold Fannin Jr.
Depth: Jack Stoll, Joe Royer, Blake Whiteheart
The Browns
lost longtime tight end David Njoku in free agency to the Los Angeles Chargers. They likely felt comfortable not pushing to re-sign him, though, thanks to the presence of rising second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who was a revelation last season. As a rookie, Fannin caught over 70 passes for 731 receiving yards and six touchdowns, setting a new franchise record for catches in a first-year season for the Browns. Whether Fannin can replicate this level of production in Year 2 with more weapons around him and potentially a different quarterback remains to be seen. However, his combination of talent and youth make him worthy of the top tight end spot in the division. The Browns have a pair of veterans on the depth chart in Jack Stoll and Blake Whiteheart, as well as 2026 fifth-round pick Joe Royer out of Cincinnati.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Starters: Pat Freiermuth
Depth: Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, Jaheim Bell
The Steelers recently granted Darnell Washington a three-year contract extension after he became a bigger part of the offense in 2025. Washington, who has a massive 6-foot-7 frame, will likely continue to be a more featured pass-catching target alongside starter Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth’s 41 catches, 486 yards and four touchdowns last season were all a decline from his numbers the previous season. His 11.9 yards per catch represented a career-high mark, though, and he finished tied for second on the team in receiving yardage. Behind these two, the Steelers have veteran Robert Tonyan, who they signed this offseason to reunite with Aaron Rodgers after they played together years ago in Green Bay.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Starters: Mark Andrews
Depth: Durham Smythe, Matthew Hibner, Josh Cuevas
The Ravens have had the deepest tight end room in the division for several years now but underwent an overhaul this offseason. They lost both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to other teams, and hybrid fullback/tight end Pat Ricard also departed. To replace these three, the Ravens signed veteran blocking tight end Durham Smythe and drafted a new pair of later round prospects. Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas have the pass-catching ability to contribute right away but replicating the impact of Likely early on as the No. 2 to Mark Andrews will be a tall task. Another factor in their drop in this ranking is the recent decline in production of Andrews, who is coming off his worst statistical season since his rookie year in 2018. If Andrews, who is 30 years old with some recent injury history, can rebound back into prime form, it would be a big boost for the Ravens’ tight end room.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Starters: Mike Gesicki
Depth: Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., Tanner Hudson
The Bengals have a veteran-heavy tight end room with no rookies. Mike Gesicki had a 65-catch, 665-yard season in 2024 but saw his production more than cut in half last year, albeit in four less games. Drew Sample has been with the team since 2019 and has consistently been a solid blocking tight end without having evolved into a prominent receiving role. Six-year veteran Tanner Hudson has averaged just under 20 receiving yards per game for the Bengals since joining the team in 2023. The X-factor of the group is Erick All Jr., a former fourth-round pick in 2024 out of Michigan. He hasn’t taken the field since December of his rookie season after suffering an ACL injury but has upside to develop into a contributor.
