Browns Dump Tight End to Make Room for UFL Star

The Cleveland Browns are tweaking their tight end depth chart, waiving Tre’ McKitty to make space for UFL standout Sal Cannella.

Cannella, a 6‑foot‑4, 230‑pound pass‑catcher out of Auburn, arrives in Cleveland riding a wave of momentum. With the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League this spring, he hauled in 44 passes for 474 yards, averaging 10.8 yards per catch. He was named to the All‑UFL team for a second consecutive year.

Cannella also led the UFL in receiving scores in 2024, finding the end zone six times in 10 games. Across three seasons with Arlington, Cannella compiled 139 receptions, 1,386 yards, and seven touchdowns. The Browns are his fifth NFL stop, having previously spent time with the practice squads of the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McKitty, a third‑round pick in 2021 who spent time in Los Angeles and Buffalo before joining Cleveland’s practice squad, did not appear in a game with the Browns. His career totals include 16 receptions for 117 yards and no touchdowns in three seasons.

The Browns officially announced the move on Thursday. Cleveland now adds Cannella behind veteran David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr., setting up a battle among depth options, including Brenden Bates and Blake Whiteheart.

Browns Excited About Rookie TE Harold Fannin

The Browns have focused on their tight end depth this offseason, with expectations that they’ll return to featuring multiple tight end sets — a hallmark of Kevin Stefanski’s offense.

After shifting away from that identity in recent seasons while cycling through offensive coordinators, the team appears poised to re-emphasize tight ends as a key part of its offensive scheme.

The Browns selected Fannin No. 67 overall after a record-setting college career at Bowling Green. Fannin is a very dangerous option in the passing game. He broke the FBS tight end record for receiving yards (1,555), receptions (117), receiving yards per game (119.6) and receptions per game (9) last season.

“Here is a 20-year-old pass catcher who’s playing at a mid-major and he’s the guy that everybody knows that they have to stop and whether he goes to College Station or at Penn State, he’s the best player,” general manager Andrew Berry said after the draft. “That weighs heavily. There are very few skill players that can do that later in their college career. And for him to be able to do that with maybe not a dynamic supporting cast, at 20 years old, it’s very impressive.”

Browns Star David Njoku’s Future Uncertain

Njoku will enter the season with something to prove. The former first-round pick is set to hit free agency at the end of the year, adding extra motivation as he looks to build on his strong resume.

Njoku earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023, posting career highs with 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns. Although injuries limited him to 11 games last season, he still hauled in 64 passes for 505 yards and five scores.

Expectations for the Browns are tempered, especially with uncertainty at quarterback. But Njoku remains confident that the team can find success — if they’re willing to put in the work.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” Njoku said on Thursday during his celebrity softball game. “We’re going to camp in about a month. A lot of work needs to be done. The secret is working hard. As long as we keep working hard, we’ll be in a good spot.”

Browns’ rookies will report for training camp on July 18, followed by the veterans on July 22.