The countdown 'til training camp is on.
In two weeks, the Browns will be back in Berea for five weeks of practices, meetings and preparations for the 2021 season — one that's filled with hype following several key additions to the defense and little changes to an offense that thrived in 2020.
We're examining each position on the roster as Day 1 of camp nears and continuing with one of the most reliable positions the Browns had in 2020.
The Tight Ends
Austin Hooper
David Njoku
Harrison Bryant
Stephen Carlson
Connor Davis
Jordan Franks
What we know: Much like several positions on the offense, this tight ends group enters training camp with little change from 2020. That's no surprise after the group made heavy contributions as blockers and receivers last season. That's what head coach Kevin Stefanski expected with a playbook that requires heavy work from the position. All three of the top contributors from the room — Hooper, Njoku and Bryant — will be back and have plenty of reasons to believe they can be even better this season. Hooper finished second among all receivers with 70 targets for 435 receiving yards and will have every opportunity to improve from his four touchdowns from 2020. Njoku, a 2017 first-round pick, drew praise for his blocking abilities last season while making 19 receptions and two touchdowns. Bryant, a 2020 fourth-round pick, delivered three touchdowns on 24 receptions and gave ample reasons to believe he can play bigger roles in the tight ends room in the future. Carlson, the other returning tight end from last season, played key roles as a special teams contributor.
Check out photos of the tight ends the Browns will be bringing into training camp
Tight end Stephen Carlson (89) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns on October 11, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 32-23.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 14, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 47-42.
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) before a NFL divisional round playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on January 17, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 17-22.
Tight end Jordan Franks (87) during the eleventh day of phase three on June 10, 2021.
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) during the second day of minicamp on June 16, 2021.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of minicamp on June 15, 2021.
Tight end Connor Davis (86) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Tight end Stephen Carlson (89) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Tight end Connor Davis (86) during the fifth day of phase two on May 24, 2021.
Tight end Connor Davis (86) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Tight end Jordan Franks (87) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL divisional round playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on January 17, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 17-22.
Tight end David Njoku (85) and Tight end Stephen Carlson (89) after a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants on December 20, 2020 on Sunday Night Football at MetLife Stadium. The Browns won 20-6.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on September 13, 2020 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 6–38.
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) during a NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 10, 2021 at Heinz Field. The Browns won 48-37.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) during practice on December 23, 2020
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) and Tight end Stephen Carlson (89) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, 2020 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 27-25.
Tight end Stephen Carlson (89) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Tight end Stephen Carlson (89) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, 2020 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 27-25.
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants on December 20, 2020 on Sunday Night Football at MetLife Stadium. The Browns won 20-6.
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) during a NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns on October 11, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 32-23.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) and Tight end David Njoku (85) after a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) before a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Tight end Austin Hooper (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
What we don't know: While the group had a solid 2020 season, the Browns believe they can get even more from the top guys in 2021. The question is how big of a jump can each of them make? Hooper has become one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's favorite targets and should be in line for plenty of red zone opportunities. Njoku and Bryant each could be given more opportunities as well, but both players were given slightly bigger receiver roles when Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a season-ending injury. How might Beckham's return impact their chances in the pass game? It's a safe bet to predict all three players will carry big jobs in Stefanski's offense, which constantly calls for formations with two or three tight ends on the field, but it'll be interesting to see how receiving roles are split between the group.
The X-Factors: We're highlighting two guys: Njoku and Bryant. Hooper is the leader of the room and should handle a similar workload from last season, but if the group wants to collectively take a big step forward, much of the growth will have to stem from Njoku and Bryant. Their 2020 performances were respectable and certainly helped Cleveland build a consistent offense, but the Browns believe both players are capable of doing even more under Year 2 of Stefanski's offense.
The biggest number: 2. That's how many drops Hooper had among his 70 targets, which showcases just how reliable of a target he was for Mayfield last season. Only Beckham (one drop) and Rashard Higgins (zero drops) had fewer drops among Browns receivers with 30 or more targets last season.
Says it all: "With no offseason and everything that led up to training camp, Stefanski definitely had to keep it pretty vanilla until about halfway through the year when we really understood (the schemes). After having the full year where we laid it all out there, this is where we can have some more fun with it and add some wrinkles now that we've built a good foundation together." - Hooper
How many were kept on the initial 53-man roster last year?: 5
