The Browns are motivated to keep David Njoku in Cleveland. Mary Kat Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that the organization “definitely” wants to retain their tight end.
Specifically, the front office is “prepared to pay him the double-digit millions” that he’d presumably command on the open market. The team has also had consistent talks with Njoku’s representatives over the past few months. The report seems to hint that Njoku will listen to other suitors, but the Browns will be waiting with a sizable offer.
This news comes as a bit of a surprise after the organization inked Austin Hooper to a hefty four-year, $44MM deal in 2020. Njoku subsequently requested a trade, but his camp rescinded that request a few months later, and the tight end has remained in Cleveland. Things have clearly gotten better between the two sides; before this past season, Njoku made it clear that he wants to stay with the organization.
“I’ve been here (Cleveland) for four years going on five,” Njoku said in August. “I don’t know anything different. I want to keep being here.”
While Njoku will presumably command a hefty pay day when he hits free agency, the former first-round pick hasn’t put up huge numbers during his time in Cleveland. He topped out in 2018 with 639 receiving yards and four touchdowns. After a pair of underwhelming, injury-riddle seasons in 2019 and 2020, the 25-year-old somewhat bounced back in 2021, finishing with 36 receptions for 475 yards and four scores.
He isn’t worth half that.
Man I wanted my squad to swoop in and get him, he’s super talented just baker is horrendous and cleveland doesn’t have the right offense for him, if he ends up with an elite arm talent quarterback he will be nice, no chance I would pay him 5 mil a year based on his career thus far though
10M plus on a backup TE, sounds very shaky when you have desperate need to acquire WR’s… BUT are there any WRs that want to play with Mayfield? Better plan might be to keep the money and get in the Bryce Young, CJ Stroud 2023 sweepstakes!!!
They’re too good to tank that high.
The Browns are very clearly moving on from Hooper this offseason, so at worst, Njoku’s contract replaces that. Njoku is a better blocker and a better fit in the offense, and he’d obviously have a bigger role in the offense without Hooper around too.
You’re still mostly paying for upside instead of production with Njoku, but he’s the most talented tight end on the roster (in an offense that uses a lot of tight ends), and it isn’t really close.
And he can actually catch the ball unlike Austin Dropster.
Tell me this site is sneaking an Onion article every once in a while on here.
Let baker walk and build around the TEs
This isn’t the Big Ten
Who does he have pictures of?
Should be checking if Mayfield has any market viability. He isn’t a true franchise QB. Better to move on from him now then bring him back for another year and create more locker room issues than what already exists. I am fine with bringing back Keenum and if season goes badly, play young guys and get early pick in 2023 for a true franchise QB.
No doubt he is talented but Cleveland has never figured out how to use him properly, seems like it would be a waste of money. I am not buying it.