Once upon a time, the NFL had an affinity for the fullback position.
A look at the list of players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who were listed as fullbacks in their playing days includes Jim Brown, Marion Motley, Larry Csonka, and Bronko Nagurski.
Astute readers will notice those players have not played the game for a very long time, as the position has fallen out of favor in the modern NFL.
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken likes having a fullback on the roster, however, and the Browns reportedly
tried to lure fullback Patrick Ricard from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
If Monken has his way, a week from now, general manager Andrew Berry may be turning in a card with the name of Navy fullback Eli Heidenreich during Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Name: Eli Heidenreich
Position: Fullback/Wide receiver
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 198 pounds
College: Navy Midshipmen
2025 Rushing Stats: 13 games, 499 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per rush, 3 rushing touchdowns, 38.4 rushing yards per game
2025 Receiving Stats: 13 games, 51 receptions, 941 receiving yards, 18.5 yards per reception, 6 receiving touchdowns, 72.4 receiving yards per game
Career Rushing Stats: 38 games, 1,157 rushing yards, 6.8 yards per rush, 7 rushing touchdowns, 30.4 rushing yards per game
Career Receiving Stats: 38 games, 109 receptions, 1,994 receiving yards, 18.3 yards per reception, 16 receiving touchdowns, 52.5 receiving yards per game
Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 215th overall, projected sixth round
PFF Big Board Ranking: 196th overall
What an Expert is Saying
Versatile and productive, Heidenreich possesses good size and toughness. Most of his run production came on jet sweeps from Navy’s option attack, but he appears to lack the acceleration to outpace NFL pursuit as a wide runner. He was a strong tester, displaying the ability to take on a bigger chunk of route-running than he saw in college. He’s short-limbed with a limited catch radius, but he hangs on tight when it hits his hands. Teams will like the mentality and his special-teams potential, but he might lack the necessary athleticism to uncover on routes or elude tacklers with the ball in his hands.
What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):
A starter for two-and-a-half years at Navy, Heidenreich played the “Snipe Z” position in the Midshipmen’s modern triple-option offense, which includes aggressive pass concepts (play action, verticals, etc.). He split his 2025 snaps between the backfield (44.4 percent), wide (35.4), slot (14.7), and inline (5.5), and he accounted for a sky-high 45.7 percent target share.
He set Navy records for career receiving yards (1,994), single-season receiving yards (941), and single-game receiving yards (243). Heidenreich and Tavon Austin are the only FBS players since 1956 with 925-plus receiving yards and 475-plus rushing yards in the same season.
Heidenreich is a versatile all-purpose athlete with acceleration and body control as both a route runner and ball carrier. More quick than explosive, he has mismatch-creating potential out of the slot and catches everything thrown his way, regardless of placement or positioning. He is unproven in pass protection, although there are no questions about his competitive toughness.
Fit with the Browns
A player who averaged 1,278 yards from scrimmage and 9 offensive touchdowns the past two seasons? And he might be able to play one of the head coach’s preferred positions? What are the Browns waiting for!
In all seriousness, Heidenreich is an interesting prospect, one that a creative, offensive-minded coach should be able to maximize. He has his limitations, but as a late selection on Day 3, he could be one to watch.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
Any running back or wide receiver at the bottom of the roster, along with your average special teams player.
Priority: Intriguing
What are your thoughts on Eli Heidenreich? Should the Browns give it a shot and see what he can do? Let us know in the comments!
