JMA alum Bryant signs with Raiders
Mar. 14—Very few football players get the opportunity to play professionally in the National Football League. Even fewer are fortunate enough to earn a second contract.
Count John Milledge Academy alum Harrison Bryant (class of 2016) among those to hit both career milestones. The tight end drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2020 is bound for Las Vegas after signing with the Raiders Thursday, the team announced.
NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the two sides agreed to terms Wednesday, saying they came together on a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. If incentives are reached, the deal could max out at $4 million, Schefter said.
After a standout couple of years playing for head coach JT Wall and the Trojans, Bryant went on to Florida Atlantic University where he shined as well under now Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. Bryant in his senior season of 2019 won the John Mackey Award, given annually to college football's top tight end.
The following spring Cleveland made the FAU product a fourth-round draft pick, and he remained with the Browns ever since. Bryant, 26 years old next month, caught 89 passes for 791 yards and 10 touchdowns through his first four pro seasons while also serving as a dependable blocker along the offensive front. His 13 receptions, 20 targets, and 81 receiving yards in 2023 were his lowest outputs in those categories as a pro, but the 6-5, 230-pounder did tie his career high with three touchdowns on the year.
Cleveland finished the '23 regular season 11-6 and was second in the AFC North division behind Baltimore. The Browns' campaign came to an end in the Wild Card round at Houston.
The completion of the season also brought an end to Bryant's rookie contract as he was free to sign elsewhere. The move was part of a flurry of news that broke when the league's free agent signing period began Wednesday. The signing was not formally announced by Las Vegas until Thursday evening, but Bryant's father did change his Facebook profile picture to a Raider logo Wednesday, lending credence to Schefter's report earlier in the day. The Raiders had lost tight end Austin Hooper to the New England Patriots, so LV was in the market for a replacement. Bryant is part of a Raider free agent signing class that includes defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (formerly with Miami) and quarterback Gardner Minshew (most recently with the Colts).
Those guys will now play for Las Vegas head coach and former Pro Bowl linebacker Antonio Pierce, who took over as interim following the 2023 midseason firing of Josh McDaniels. The Raiders went 5-4 in Pierce's nine games at the helm, giving team ownership the confidence to name him to the role full-time. The offensive coordinator under Pierce is Luke Getsy, and the tight ends coach is Luke Steckel.
Las Vegas went 8-9 last season and finished second in the AFC West behind eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City.
