The Cleveland Browns worked out an intriguing tight end who recently played for the Detroit Lions and got his footing as a strong blocker in the United Football League.
James Larsen with the UFL Newsroom posted to X on Sept. 19 that the Browns worked out former San Antonio Brahmas tight end Steven Stilianos, who was cut by the Lions last month.
Stilianos signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but did not make the roster. Primarily a blocking tight end at Iowa, he was considered a long shot to join the Lions this season.
Steven Stilianos Was Mainly a Blocking TE in UFL
According to Larsen, Stilianos is a special story coming out of the UFL. He joined the Brahmas a week into the season and immediately made an impact up front.
Stilianos started six of the nine games he played, totaling 86 receiving yards and one touchdown. He also threw for a score on a trick play, which became one of the standout moments of the UFL’s 2025 season. Stilianos was a quarterback in high school.
Throughout the season, interim head coach Payton Pardee consistently praised Steven’s performance, saying that “all 32 NFL teams need to take a look at Stilly” at the conclusion of the UFL season.
This summer, Stilianos attracted significant NFL interest, and for good reason. He held workouts with the Bills and Vikings before ultimately signing with the Lions. Detroit brought him in for an immediate signing, bypassing the usual workout process.
Cleveland Already Has Young Rookie TE Exceeding Expectations
The Lions were targeting UFL talent in the offseason. The Lions initially signed Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors, Battlehawks DB Nick Whiteside, and Panthers DB D.J. Miller. Saylors remains on the roster as a return specialist, while Whiteside and Miller, along with Stilianos, were waived during final cuts.
If Cleveland adds Stilianos, they’d have four tight ends on the active roster: David Njoku, Harold Fannin Jr. and Blake Whiteheart.
Fannin, a third-round pick out of Bowling Green, is out to a great start to his NFL career. Just two games in, Fannin leads the Browns with 12 receptions, five of which converted first downs. He ranks second on the team in both receiving yards (111) and targets (14). He turned 21 in July.
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 08: Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. #88 of the Cleveland Browns readies at the line of scrimmage in the first half during the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 08, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Fannin’s 12 receptions rank second all-time for rookie tight ends in their first two games. Since 1970, only two other players at the position have started their careers with back-to-back five-catch games: Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders — both of whom went on to become first-year Pro Bowlers.
Fannin shares the tight end room with Njoku, a former Pro Bowler, who might have limited his opportunities. Yet through two games, Fannin has outpaced Njoku in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, despite playing just 17 fewer pass snaps.
Fannin just became a tight end three years ago as he previously was a running back and safety, according to Cleveland.com. For every benchmark, Fannin has not just met expectations but exceeded them.
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