After a second stint with his hometown Browns, Pharaoh Brown will head back to the AFC South. The veteran tight end agreed to a deal with the Colts on Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
This agreement is pending a physical, with Fowler adding the contract is not expected to be official until April 9. Brown is a six-year vet whose most notable statistical contributions have come with the Texans.
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Brown, 28, has made a nice career for himself after coming into the league as a UDFA. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher will attempt to play a seventh NFL season, and the retooling Colts will provide that chance. Indianapolis is fairly well-stocked at tight end, rostering Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods and Kylen Granson. Each of the team’s top tight ends arrived during GM Chris Ballard‘s tenure, though Woods and Granson were selected to play in Frank Reich‘s offense. Brown marks the first notable addition at the spot since Shane Steichen took over.
The Texans gave Brown a one-year, $3.5MM deal in 2022, and the Oregon alum proceeded to lose nearly 20 pounds to better position himself for receiving success. The weight loss did not lead to increased production; between stays in Houston and Cleveland last season, Brown totaled 12 catches for 117 yards.
Brown played at around 280 pounds in 2021, working more as an in-line blocker. That may be what the Colts would prefer, given his modest receiving numbers. Brown’s career-best receiving total is 171 yards, coming in 2021. Steichen, Jim Bob Cooter and Co. will see how Brown looks in their offense. The Colts also have 2022 sixth-rounder Andrew Ogletree and former Texas A&M standout-turned-UDFA Jalen Wydermyer on their roster at the position.