Mackey Award winner going in reverse after down year with Raiders, back on free agent market
When the Cleveland Browns drafted the 2019 Mackey Award winner for the nation’s best tight end, Harrison Bryant, they had visions of a dynamic tandem with David Njoku, a first-round draft pick and a receiving tight end along with prized free agency signing Austin Hooper. This triple threat was considered one of the best tight-end groups in the league at the time.
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Bryant was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Most considered him an early third-round selection, so to be sitting there a round later was considered a draft steal. His contract was worth $4.064 million, with a $769,032 signing bonus over four years but included a negotiated fourth-year adjustment.
In Week 3 of his rookie campaign, he scored his first career touchdown, a three-yard dart from Baker Mayfield in a 34–20 win over the Washington Football Team. Later, he was placed on the reserve/COVID list but was durable all season. Bryant was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team despite nominal production of 38 targets, 24 catches for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
The following season, TE Stephen Carlson was signed along with Miller Forristall who ended up on the practice squad. That year it remained the three top tight ends. Bryant’s numbers fell to 28 targets, 21 receptions for 233 yards and three scores.
Before the 2022 season, Hooper and his large contract was released. Cleveland brought in Pharoah Brown, and a trio of hyphenated-named players: Nakia Griffin-Stewart, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, and Marcus Santos-Silva. Bryant was then cemented at TE2 and great things was expected of him other than his blocking skills in the run game.
Although Bryant did have his best career stats, that wasn’t saying much. His 239 yards bested his rookie season by one yard. He had 42 targets with 31 receptions, both career highs. The lone touchdown stands out as a “Wait, what?” moment.
The questions about his ability began to take root. For one, he was now solidly entrenched as the second tight end. For another, Hooper and his targets were no longer an issue or a reason for Bryant’s low production numbers. In his contract year, the wheels fell off as far as helping out the passing game as he had 20 targets, 13 receptions, 81 yards, and three touchdowns. He did gain four rushing TDs this season by becoming the QB in the QB sneak on the goal line.
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At the end of his rookie contract, Bryant had averaged 197.75 yards a season and 22.25 catches a year for the Browns.
Needless to say, paying Bryant over one million per season for 22 receptions wasn’t getting it done, so he wasn’t even in the discussion about being re-signed.
Bryant did receive a raise, however, when he signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for $3.5 million. And his production in 2024? Nine catches with 12 targets for 86 yards and zero touchdowns.
Now, he has signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for $2 million and will compete with starter Dallas Goedert along with TE2 Grant Calcaterra, Kylen Granson, TE3 E.J. Jenkins, Cameron Latu, and Nick Muse.
Are you surprised by how much the Raiders and Eagles have been willing to pay Bryant since he left the Browns?