Here's why the Cleveland Browns must consider moving off of veteran tight end David Njoku this offseason.
It’s never fun for Cleveland Browns fans to see some of the franchise’s best players leave the organization.
This past offseason, general manager Andrew Berry made the tough decision to let former star running back Nick Chubb walk in free agency. While the 2018 second-round pick played a key role for Cleveland’s offense for multiple seasons, Berry made the correct call and drafted both running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now, the time has come for the Browns to move off another franchise cornerstone this offseason in tight end David Njoku.
Since being selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Njoku has been a key piece of Cleveland’s offense, racking up 4,062 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns in his 118 games played with the organization. Njoku had a breakout season in 2023, notching a career-high 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 81 catches.
However, as Berry continues to try to rebuild the Browns for the future this offseason, the direction of the franchise may not correlate with Njoku’s timeline in the NFL, especially after the incredible season of rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
As a third-round selection in the recent NFL Draft, Fannin has quickly become one of the hottest young tight ends in the league. The former Bowling Green standout has the sixth-most receiving yards by a tight end this season, with 50 percent of his yards coming after the catch, according to Sumer Sports.
With Fannin clearly becoming one of the primary targets on offense this season, the decision to move off a veteran like Njoku continues to make more sense for the Browns every week.
The 29-year-old tight end’s cap number in 2026 stands at roughly $24 million, which means that if Berry could save an extra $10 million if he moves on from Njoku this offseason. This would be ideal for the franchise currently in need of cap space for the 2026 offseason.
If Berry does select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, however, there is a possibility that the front office would want to keep Njoku to support the rookie in his development track. In that case, it would not be surprising if the Browns looked for a late-round tight end instead of keeping Njoku.