Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku announced he won't be returning to the team in 2026 via his official social media pages. It was the expected outcome. Njoku is scheduled to hit free agency in March, where he'll pick the top emerging suitor for his next destination.
Njoku spent nine successful seasons with the Browns. A four-year, $54.7 million contract he signed in 2022 is slated to expire. The Browns drafted tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in 2025, ensuring they had a successor in place for Njoku's inevitable departure.
The aging Njoku is still an effective passing-game weapon. He may be available on a team-friendly contract, given his advancing age paired with being limited to 12 appearances in 2025 due to injury. We've identified three potential landing spots for Njoku in free agency.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons will be considered the most logical landing spot. New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski spent his six seasons in Cleveland (2020-25) coaching Njoku. Njoku thrived under Stefanski's brilliance, enjoying a career-best year in 2023 that saw him produce 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns.
The Falcons could also enter the market for a tight end with Njoku's experience. Kyle Pitts is a pending free agent and may prefer a fresh start after failing to meet lofty expectations in Atlanta. If the Falcons don't re-sign Pitts, adding an experienced weapon like Njoku for Michael Penix Jr. as the replacement would make so much sense.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos may have played in Super Bowl LX had starting quarterback Bo Nix not suffered an injury in the divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills. It was a brutal break for the Broncos, who will spend the offseason continuing to invest in Nix's supporting cast. They should return as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2026.
Sean Payton's offense did not receive enough production from the tight end position. Evan Engram is a potential cap casualty as the Broncos could clear $6.4 million in cap space by designating him as a post-June-1 cut. Engram failed to surpass 500 receiving yards in his debut season with Denver, and Njoku projects as an upgrade.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 8-9 and endured a disappointing season in which they missed the playoffs. The Buccaneers remain in win-now mode with Todd Bowles as head coach and Baker Mayfield at quarterback. The objective this offseason will be to reload around the core in place, with the goal of reclaiming the NFC South division title in 2026.
Starting tight end Cade Otton is a pending free agent. Spotrac projects Otton's market value at about $8 million per season, but it wouldn't be shocking if that figure bloated to above $10 million annually, given the expected increase in the salary cap. If the Buccaneers let him walk, they should target a more affordable, seasoned option in Njoku.
