The Cleveland Browns could trade veteran tight end David Njoku before the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 4), according to beat reporter Zac Jackson. Njoku is on an expiring contract. He's scheduled to hit free agency in March despite carrying a dead cap charge of $24.3 million for Cleveland next season.
The Browns are incredibly unlikely to re-sign Njoku. His role in the offense has essentially been replaced by rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Fannin leads the Browns in receiving yards (352) and touchdowns (2). He was drafted to be the future solution at the position.
The rebuilding Browns require additional draft capital to help accelerate their rebuild, especially if they’re planning on selecting a quarterback in 2026. Trading veteran players on expiring contracts like Njoku represents shrewd business. We've identified three potential landing spots for Njoku via trade.
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are desperate for tight end help. General manager George Paton tried to claim two tight ends off waivers earlier this week. Paton submitted claims on Brendan Bates and Ben Sims, but lost out to teams with a higher waiver wire priority. The Broncos also signed 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis to their practice squad.
Offseason addition Evan Engram hasn't met expectations. It's no surprise the Broncos are interested in retooling at tight end. The 6-2 Broncos sit atop the AFC West as division leaders. Sophomore quarterback Bo Nix is developing on the appropriate track, and he'd appreciate having another reliable pass catcher at his disposal.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dealing with a ton of injuries on offense. The offensive line is ravaged, but there have been multiple setbacks at wide receiver, too. Mike Evans has a potentially season-ending injury. Chris Godwin has been in and out of the lineup. They are overly reliant on Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson.
The 6-2 Buccaneers are leading the NFC South, but the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons remain in postseason contention. Baker Mayfield's form has been negatively impacted by the injuries all over the offense. Njoku would give Josh Grizzard's offense another mismatch weapon capable of doing damage in the red zone and up the seam.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars starting tight end Brenton Strange remains on IR with a quadriceps injury. Liam Coen's offense has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks. They've lost two consecutive contests, scoring 12 and seven points in those respective setbacks. They're down a passing-game option on offense. Meanwhile, Travis Hunter continues to find himself, and Brian Thomas Jr. is enduring an inconsistent season.
Trevor Lawrence is struggling. He's missed having a reliable weapon like Strange, and Njoku could fill that void. They'd form an effective pair once Strange returns from injury. The Jaguars remain in wild-card contention and should consider upgrading at the deadline. Njoku would address a temporary need as a worthwhile midseason rental.