Going into the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs weren't 100 percent sure whether or not Travis Kelce would be returning or retiring. Come to find out, he isn't going anywhere. But, that doesn't take the topic off the table completely.
Fans often wonder who the next Kelce is going to be for Kansas City, and while he is irreplaceable, the team is going to have to find a successor at some point.
Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin is a popular pick for Chiefs fans, and other teams needing help at the position. He comes in with a highly-impressive résumé, particularly with what he did just this past season. He'll be one of the top tight ends selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and with that in mind, let's dig a bit further.
Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 241
- First-Team AP All-American (2024)
- Led nation in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) in 2024 (both single-season FBS records)
Positives
- Some of the best hands you'll see on a tight end prospect; nearly-automatic
- A threat to beat defenders down the middle of the field; rapid acceleration helps
- Not easy to bring down after the catch; always opportunity for YAC
If you throw him the football, Fannin will almost always come down with the catch. He became a household name thanks to being absolutely dominant in 2024. A focal point of the Bowling Green offense, Fannin could not be stopped. He knows how to get open and find that crease in defenses.
It doesn't hurt that he's a threat after the catch. Fannin won't go down easy, especially if a defender tries to tackle him above the waist. Fannin is a production machine and can handle heavy run.
Negatives
- Not a dependable blocker, lacking the lower body strength necessary
- Doesn't have prototypical height/weight combination of an NFL tight end
- Limited in his routes because of limited lower body athleticism
Fannin is surely more receiver than he is blocker, and teams will have to understand his limitations in that realm. He won't get you very far if depended on in that department. Fannin has often been labeled as "stiff" in his lower body, too, as multiple draft profiles describe him as such. This is going to hamper his ability to run an extensive route tree.
Harold Fannin Jr. NFL Player Comparison: Jake Ferguson
Despite being a couple of inches shorter, Fannin compares well to Jake Ferguson. The similarities in both being able to stretch vertically and their reliability in catching the football are too close. Not being particularly excellent blockers but still being willing, Fannin and Ferguson stack up there as well.
Fannin is really good at finding a soft spot in the defense and sitting down to make an easier throw for his quarterback, like Ferguson (and Kelce, too, for that matter).
Harold Fannin Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Round 3
Fannin is looked at anywhere between the third and sixth-ranked tight end in his class, but most would agree that he should be a Day 2 pick. If not, early Round 4.