TE David Njoku Says He Won’t Be Returning To Browns
David Njoku indicated that he won’t be re-signing with the Browns. The impending free agent tight end took to Instagram this evening to say farewell to Cleveland, stating that “the time for me to find a new home has come.”
“Cleveland, first off I love you,” Njoku wrote. “These 9 years have been a beautiful journey. I’m am so grateful for all the memories we shared together. Thank you to The Haslams, Andrew Berry and the whole browns organization for everything!! All my teammates I shared the battle with I’m so grateful for you guys. The time for me to find a new home has come and all I can think of is just the gratefulness in my heart. The city of Cleveland will forever be home.”
After emerging in trade rumors during the 2024 trade deadline, Njoku was once again viewed as a trade candidate in 2025. Coupled with the tight end’s impending free agent and the performance of third-round rookie TE Harold Fannin, those trade rumblings seemed to indicate that Njoku’s departure from Cleveland would come sooner than later.
Still, after Njoku stuck with the Browns after the deadline, we heard that the tight end was eyeing an extension with the franchise. And following the regular season, there were reports that the Browns would consider a third contract for the veteran. Since then, the Browns have revamped their coaching staff, and Njoku reportedly endorsed new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski to Atlanta TE (and fellow impending free agent) Kyle Pitts.
If Njoku sticks to his current word and indeed looks to play elsewhere in 2026, he’ll end a Browns tenure that sees him rank among the organization’s best tight ends. While the 2017 first-round pick was always going to face an uphill battle to rival franchise legend Ozzie Newsome, Njoku arguably established himself as the second-best TE in Browns history. Despite inconsistent QB play for much of his nine seasons in Cleveland, Njoku still hauled in 384 catches for 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns. That latter mark ranks sixth on the Browns’ all-time receiving leaderboard.
Njoku played through his rookie contract in Cleveland before being slapped with the franchise tag in 2022. He subsequently inked a four-year, $56MM extension with the organization, and his $14MM average annual value still ranks fifth at the position. The 29-year-old dealt with knee injuries for much of the 2025 season, opening the door for Fannin to pace the team in targets (107) and receptions (72). While both tight ends could have coexisted in Cleveland, it comes as zero surprise that the Browns and Njoku are preparing for a divorce.
Njoku may have a tough time retaining his current spot in the AAV standings, and there’s a good chance he even falls out of the top-15 at his position (~$10MM). Besides his 2025 injuries and drop in production, Njoku is also a part of a relatively deep free agent class at the position. Even assuming that Travis Kelce will either retire or return to the Chiefs, Njoku will be competing with the likes of Pitts, DallasGoedert, and Isaiah Likely for his next contract.
Chargers’ Khalil Mack, Odafe Oweh To “Be In Demand” This Offseason
While free agent Trey Hendrickson and likely trade target Maxx Crosby will lead the class of available edge rushers this offseason, a pair of Chargers pass rushers also shouldn’t lack for suitors. According to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom.com, Chargers edge rushers Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh will “be in demand” this offseason.
While pass-rush-needy teams will surely take whatever reinforcement they can get, the two teammates may have different experiences in free agency. Mack, of course, has spent 12 years in the NFL, and while it’s been close to a decade since he won his Defensive Player of the Year award, the veteran continues to produce. While the former Raiders star failed to match that production in Chicago, he has had a few standout moments during his stint with the Chargers. This includes a 17-sack campaign in 2023, but Mack otherwise averaged around six sacks per season during his other three years in Los Angeles.
Thanks to a six-year, $141MM extension with the Bears that temporarily made him the highest-paid defender in NFL history, Mack has never truly experienced free agency. He inked a one-year, $16MM extension with the Chargers last offseason, and there’s a chance he may have to settle for another short-term deal following a 12-game showing in 2025.
Oweh, meanwhile, just completed his rookie contract. The former first-round pick spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Ravens, where he often found himself serving in a part-time role. Despite only getting into about 60 percent of the Ravens defensive snaps during his tenure with the team, Oweh still managed to compile 23 sacks with the organization, including a 10-sack performance in 2024.
The 27-year-old got into a career-low 45 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps in 2025 before he was shipped to Los Angeles in October. The impending free agent had a productive few months with his new squad, compiling 7.5 sacks and 13 QB hits in 12 games (two starts).
The two edge rushers will have a natural suitor in the Chargers, as La Canfora notes that the organization will be active trying to retain “at least one of them.” Another not-so-surprising suitor will be the Ravens, as La Canfora notes that new head coach (and former Chargers defensive coordinator) Jesse Minter are expected to “heavily pursue” the free agents.
Browns Request DC Interview With Falcons’ Mike Rutenberg
Another name has joined the growing list of candidates for the Browns defensive coordinator job. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Browns have requested an interview with Falcons defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg.
Rutenberg had a long stint in Jacksonville to begin his NFL coaching career. Following seven seasons with the organization, he caught on with the 49ers as their passing game specialist. That move reunited him with Robert Saleh after the two worked alongside each other during their time with the Jaguars.
When Saleh got the Jets head coaching job in 2021, Rutenberg followed him to New York as the team’s new linebackers coach. He spent four years with the organization, three of which saw the Jets finish in the top-five in total defense. As the Jets revamped their coaching staff ahead of the 2025 campaign, Rutenberg left for the Falcons, where he was named the defensive pass game coordinator. Atlanta’s pass defense was generally middle-of-the-road this past season, although they did rank sixth in interceptions.
The 44-year-old’s stock has recently been climbing. He was a candidate for the Titans DC job that eventually went to Gus Bradley, and Fowler notes that Rutenberg was actually the runner-up in that process. Now, he’ll get another crack at a coordinator gig in Cleveland.
Another name that’s definitively connected to the Browns job is Texans passing-game coordinator Cory Undlin, who was previously mentioned as a potential candidate for the gig. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, Undlin met with the Browns this past weekend. This would be a bit of a homecoming for the veteran coach, who had a four-year stint in Cleveland early in his coaching career.
Since then, he’s coached defensive backs in stops with the Jaguars, Broncos, Eagles, and 49ers. He also had a one-year stint as the Lions defensive coordinator under Matt Patricia, although Detroit ranked as the worst defense in the NFL that year. He’s spent the past three seasons serving in his current role on DeMeco Ryans‘s staff in Houston.
With Jim Schwartz resigning from his post in Cleveland, the Browns list of DC candidates continues to grow. The team’s other options include:
- Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Browns): Interviewed 2/7
- Charlie Bullen, defensive pass-game coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
- Jonathan Cooley, defensive pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): To interview 2/9
- Jason Tarver, linebackers coach (Browns): Interviewed 2/7
- Dino Vasso, defensive backs coach (Texans): Mentioned as candidate; withdrew from search
Greg Roman Expected To Join Giants Staff
FEBRUARY 6: Roman is expected to serve as a senior offensive assistant, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports.
FEBRUARY 5: Greg Roman is set to reunite with John Harbaugh in New York. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there’s a “strong possibility” the veteran coach joins the Giants in a “to-be-determined role.”
[RELATED: Giants To Hire Matt Nagy As OC]
Roman had a six-year stint on Harbaugh’s Ravens staff, including four as offensive coordinator. Baltimore had the league’s best offense during his first season at the helm, and they were a top-10 unit in 2020. However, when Lamar Jackson battled injuries in 2021 and 2022, the Ravens saw their offensive rank drop to the late teens. Roman resigned following that 2022 campaign. Roman also had a stint on Baltimore’s staff between 2006 and 2007, but he didn’t stick around when Harbaugh was hired in 2008.
Following his first Baltimore stint, Roman served as Stanford’s associate head coach under Jim Harbaugh. Roman followed his boss to San Francisco, where he served as the 49ers offensive coordinator for four seasons. While the passing attack struggled under the coach, the 49ers rushing game was one of the best in the NFL, with Roman guiding Frank Gore to four standout campaigns. He later joined Rex Ryan‘s staff in Buffalo, and despite guiding the Tyrod Taylor-led offense to nearly-top-10 showings, he only lasted two years with the Bills.
Roman’s stint in Buffalo was followed by his long tenure in Baltimore. After spending a year out of football, he caught on with Jim Harbaugh’s staff in Los Angeles, where he coached the Justin Herbert-led offense in 2024 and 2025. The Chargers ended up moving on from the offensive coordinator following a three-point showing during the team’s playoff loss to the Patriots. Despite his underwhelming performance with the Chargers, Roman was still a finalist for the Jets OC job that eventually went to Frank Reich.
With that opportunity settled, Roman is now set to reunite with John Harbaugh in New York. It’s uncertain exactly what role he’ll serve on the Giants staff. The team has already added Matt Nagy as their new offensive coordinator, but there are still plenty of open gigs on the staff. Roman has extensive experience coaching tight ends, although the Giants did bring in former Ravens TEs guru Danny Breyer as their new pass game coordinator. Considering his past success with RBs, perhaps Roman could find himself with a key role on that part of the Giants offense.
Ravens Add Lou Esposito, Israel Woolfork To Staff
Jesse Minter continues to shape his first coaching staff in Baltimore. On defense, the Ravens have hired Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito for the same role, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reported earlier tonight that the two sides were close.
While Esposito doesn’t have any direct ties to Baltimore, there are some indirect connections to the staff and the organization. When Minter joined the Chargers following a two-year stint as Michigan’s defensive coordinator, Esposito caught on with the program as the DL coach. During Esposito’s time at Michigan, he worked under former Ravens DC Wink Martindale, who has spent the past two years in the same role with the Wolverines.
This will represent Esposito’s first NFL gig. He’s had a long career coaching in the college ranks, including multiple stops at Western Michigan. Following a three-year stint as Davenport’s head coach, he spent seven years as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. In Baltimore, he’ll be working under long-time defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens have landed on Lamar Jackson‘s new positional coach. Schefter reported yesterday that the Ravens have hired Israel Woolfork as their new QBs coach. Woolfork spent the past three seasons coaching Kyler Murray in Arizona, and he got a career year out of Jacoby Brissett this past season. He was a candidate for the Buccaneers offensive coordinator job earlier this offseason, and the Cardinals blocked him for a handful of interviews. Ultimately, he’ll head to Baltimore to coach a former MVP.
With Woolfork brought aboard, Tee Martin will not be returning to Baltimore for the 2026 campaign, per Jordan Schultz. Martin spent the past three seasons as the Ravens QBs coach, and he spent two years before that coaching Baltimore’s wideouts. The 47-year-old built a strong relationship with Jackson during his tenure with the organization, but Minter and new OC Declan Doyle decided to bring in their own QBs coach.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/5/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Miami Dolphins
- TE Zack Kuntz
Zack Kuntz was a seventh-round pick by the Jets in 2023 and spent two years with the organization. The majority of his NFL career has been spent on New York’s practice squad, although he did find his way into two games with the Jets. He was waived at the end of the 2025 preseason and didn’t join a team for this past season. The tight end was selected by the DC Defenders during this past January’s UFL draft.
Giants Seem “Likely” To Retain WR Wan’Dale Robinson
Wan’Dale Robinson‘s career season couldn’t have come at a better time, as the impending free agent wideout is expected to garner a lucrative contract this offseason. While the Giants have brought in a new coaching staff, the organization is still making the receiver a priority.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Robinson’s return to New York “seems likely.” Raanan notes that Robinson has always been a “favorite” of Joe Schoen, who selected the Kentucky product in the second round of his first draft as Giants GM. Further, the reporter notes that the Giants need to add playmakers this offseason, and letting one of their top wideouts walk in free agency would defeat that purpose.
Robinson struggled to separate himself from the Giants other wide receivers through his first two NFL seasons, but he showed some progress in 2024 when he hauled in 93 of his 140 targets. With Malik Nabers being limited to four games thanks to a torn ACL in 2025, Robinson emerged as Jaxson Dart‘s preferred target. The 25-year-old wideout had his first 1,000-yard season, and he hauled in 92 catches and a career-high four receiving touchdowns.
As John Harbaugh looks to turn around the success of the organization, there’s some merit to maintaining continuity on offense. Nabers should be ready to go towards the beginning of the season, while Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt are set to return in 2026. Still, Robinson would provide Dart with another high-quality target, and he may also represent one of the best options the team could possibly pursue via free agency.
Outside of George Pickens, this year’s WRs free agent class lacks a true positional game-changer, opening the door for Robinson to garner a lucrative contract. Mike Evans offers an impressive resume but is entering his age-33 season following an injury-filled 2025 campaign, while the likes of Alec Pierce, Jauan Jennings, and Romeo Doubs bring a similar track record as Robinson. As a result, the Giants could find themselves competing with other suitors to retain one of their top WR.
Cardinals Add Miami’s Matt Merritt As RBs Coach
Mike LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett aren’t wasting any time adding to their new Cardinals staff. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the team has hired Miami running backs coach Matt Merritt for the same role in Arizona.
[RELATED: Cardinals To Hire Nathaniel Hackett As OC]
Merritt joined the Hurricanes staff ahead of the 2024 season and guided a rushing attack that saw Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. combine for 19 touchdowns. He also got some production from eventual first-overall pick Cam Ward, who rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries. Fletcher Jr. took his production to another level in 2025, finishing with 1,192 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. CharMar Brown added seven scores of his own.
Other than his stint at Miami, Merritt’s stops have included Ohio State, Tennessee, and USF. During his tenure at that latter school, he helped guide a rushing attack that averaged 182.8 yards per game during the 2023 campaign. Nay’Quan Wright rushed for 797 yards and eight touchdowns, while QB Byrum Brown joined Jayden Daniels as the nation’s only signal callers to throw for at least 3,000 yards while compiling 800-plus rushing yards.
In Arizona, Merritt’s running back corps should be relatively set. James Conner will be leading the depth chart following a lost 2025 campaign, and Trey Benson will return as the RB2 following a handful of respectable outings last year. The team also has Corey Kiner on their offseason roster, while the trio of Emari Demercado, Zonovan Knight, and Michael Carter are all impending free agents.
Elsewhere in Arizona, the Cardinals have requested an interview with Dan Williams for their QB coach job, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Williams has spent the past seven seasons in Kansas City, including the past five coaching Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs assistant QBs coach.
Jeff Stoutland Won’t Return As Eagles OL Coach In 2026
Jeff Stoutland‘s iconic stint on the Eagles coaching staff has come to an end. The long-time offensive line coach announced that he won’t be returning to the Eagles coaching staff in 2026. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Stoutland is expected to stay with the organization in another role.
“I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end,” Stoutland wrote on X. “When I arrived here in 2013, I did not know what I was signing up for. I quickly learned what this city demands. But more importantly, what it gives back. The past 13 years have been the great privilege of my coaching career. I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”
Stoutland spent decades coaching in college football before joining the Eagles staff under Chip Kelly in 2013. Despite the organization later employing two other head coaches, the OL coach has stuck around while earning a reputation as one of the NFL’s premier offensive line gurus. Over his 14 years in Philadelphia, Stoutland won a pair of Super Bowls while coaching eight linemen to a combined 26 Pro Bowls and 14 All-Pro nods. He earned the additional title of run-game coordinator in 2018, although the coach reportedly lost that role midway through the 2025 campaign.
While the coach has been credited with the elite play of the likes of Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, and Jason Peters, he did have several additional accomplishments during his long tenure with the franchise. That includes coaching up former rugby player Jordan Mailata, who never played organized football before joining the Eagles. Mailata has since started 85 games over his eight seasons with the organization, leading the lineman to declare his alma mater as “Jeff Stoutland University” during a Sunday Night Football matchup in 2022.
Since Nick Sirianni has come on board, the head coach has credited Stoutland with the rise of the infamous “Tush Push.” After making the play a regular part of their playbook in 2022, quarterback Jalen Hurts has found the end zone 50 times, with the majority of those scores coming from the one- or two-yard line. Stoutland also guided a prolific rushing attack in 2024 that saw Saquon Barkley compile a record 2,504 rushing yards between the regular season and playoffs.
It’s uncertain if the addition of new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion entirely influenced Stoutland’s decision, although Rapoport does note that the OC intends to bring in his own offensive staff. Zach Berman of The Athletic clarifies that the Mannion and Sirianni wanted to keep Stoutland on their staff, but it was ultimately the veteran coach’s decision to step away. Further, while it sounds like the Eagles intend to keep the veteran coach in the building, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo predicts that rival teams will surely check in on his availability.
While the move will have a massive impact on Philly’s approach to their coaching staff, it could also influence some roster decisions. As Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com observes, Stoutland’s departure from the coaching staff could influence Johnson’s decision to keep playing in 2026.
Texans Add Brandon Codrington To Offseason Roster
The Texans have added a former All-Rookie Team member to their offseason roster. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Texans have signed returner Brandon Codrington to a reserve/futures contract.
Codrington brings a bit more intrigue than your standard reserve/futures contract, and that’s mostly thanks to the 25-year-old’s special teams ability. The North Carolina Central product first stood out as a member of the Jets during the 2024 preseason, when he returned a kickoff for 63 yards and a punt for 31 yards.
He was later traded to Buffalo, where he proceeded to have a productive rookie campaign. He ultimately finished that 2024 season having returned 11 kickoffs for 306 yards and 27 punts for 313 yards. He was limited to only four games in 2025 but still garnered even more looks in the kickoff game, where he had 14 returns for 375 yards.
Codrington also got a bit of run on defense, where he served as a wide corner and a slot corner. He ultimately compiled nine tackles and one pass defended while appearing in 79 total defensive snaps.
While he’d likely have an uphill battle to contribute defensively in Houston, Codrington could compete for a returner role. Rookie third-round pick Jaylin Noel served as the primary kick and punt returner in 2025, but he could see reduced snaps in 2026 if his offensive responsibility increases. If that’s the case, Codrington could find himself competing with the likes of Tremon Smith and the returning Tank Dell for any leftover ST snaps.