After a patient offseason, Los Angeles targets dynamic tight end David Njoku to bolster Justin Herbert's arsenal and transform their offense into a legitimate championship contender.
It was a largely quiet free agency for several NFL teams. The Los Angeles Chargers were one of those teams.
The Chargers, save for a filled need here and there and a re-signing of star edge rusher Khalil Mack, caught a plenty of flack for perceived offseason inaction in the early going of the free agent period. Even so, the team that entered the offseason with plenty of money to make an impactful addition opted to be patience. Now, as other teams have spent their way out of contention for remaining impact players, the Chargers' patience could pay off.
Jobe Morrison of The Big Lead discussed what the Bolts are planning on Monday. Reportedly, the team is set to meet with elite tight end David Njoku. Here's some of what Morrison had to write about the potential massive addition to the Chargers' roster.
"The Los Angeles Chargers have reportedly scheduled a free-agent visit with David Njoku for Monday. The former Cleveland Browns first-round pick would bring an intriguing and dynamic element to the Chargers’ offense.
Los Angeles addressed its interior offensive line in the draft and expects to have its star tackles back this season. With those concerns largely handled, the team can now focus on adding more weapons for quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Chargers already boast a deep backfield and a stable receiving corps. Adding Njoku alongside rising tight end Oronde Gadsden could elevate the offense and push the team into serious contender discussions."
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) walks off the field after the game against the Tennessee Titans at Huntington Bank Field. Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesWith Njoku comes pedigree at the tight end position. That said, the last two seasons have seen his numbers decline. From 2020 to 2023, the Cleveland Browns tight end posted between 10.9 and 13.2 yards per reception in the four-year span.
Njoku added career highs with 81 receptions and 882 receiving yards to go with six receiving touchdowns in 2023. He followed with a 64-catch, 505 receiving yard season in 2024 and only 33 receptions for 293 yards last year. Obviously, injury health played a role in Njoku's numbers, but the decline still happened.
The potential, however, is just as present as it was two years ago. Pairing Njoku with the right quarterback and offensive coordinator could be the difference in bouncing back from a down couple of seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
The deal is not done, and there's still plenty to watch over the next week or two in free agency, but keep an eye on the Chargers to make a deal with Njoku over the remaining days of the offseason.