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Jack Stoll #87 is signing with the Cleveland Browns.
He is not exactly a Cleveland Browns replacement for David Njoku, but that’s not what the team will be asking of their latest free-agent addition, tight end Jack Stoll, who is signing a one-year contract to leave the Saints for next season.
That news comes from multiple reporters, with Mike Garafalo of the NFL Network noting, “The #Browns have agreed to terms with TE Jack Stoll on a one-year deal, sources say. Former #Eagles undrafted free agent on his way to Cleveland after a year with the #Saints.”
Stoll will come aboard for his blocking ability, as he has mostly played in running sets as a sixth blocker up front. In five NFL seasons, Stoll has been only rarely deployed as a receiver–he has played in 76 games and has 28 total receptions in those games, for 239 yards. He caught the first touchdown of his career last season with the Saints, back in Week 3. Still, he has played an average of 351 offensive snaps per season because of his blocking ability.
Browns Should Get Help on Special Teams
Expect Stoll to help on special teams, too, where he has been a plus player, and where any Browns fan knows the team severely needs experienced help. Stoll routinely played about half the special teams snaps during his first three-plus seasons in Philadelphia, and played 132 snaps there (35%) in New Orleans last year.
One of the problems in the Browns’ special teams last year, one that both Kevin Stefanski and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone repeatedly mentioned, was the youth and lack of experience on the unit. Stoll will bring experience.
New special teams coordinator Byron Storer mentioned how he will determine how the Browns will play in the return games based on adding personnel.
“Personnel wise, if you don’t have a ton of speed out there to work with, then you may end up having to be more of a rush unit, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “But if you have smaller guys that can run now, you got to maybe be more of a return team. So, it just depends on what you have to work with that dictates how good you could be at something. … That’s part of right now when you’re doing self-scout, you’re doing free agency, you’re doing the draft, but you’re also taking a look at the top five units at every phase.”
Jack Stoll Will Not Be TE2
As for the Browns’ tight end room, it will still need more. Harold Fannin is expected to be the star piece there, and he showed himself to be worthy of that mantle–he racked up 72 catches and 731 yards receiving in 16 games.
Stoll is a useful piece, but to declare him a TE2 is probably a bit too enthusiastic. Njoku was among the worst blockers in the league in 2025, and Stoll will be a vast improvement there. But the Browns will still want a pass-catcher at the position. They have Sal Cannella and Brenden Bates still on the roster, and could give them more opportunity.
But there’s a good chance the Browns look for a true backup to Fannin in the NFL draft next month.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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