Tight end David Njoku has been franchise tagged by the Cleveland Browns, keeping him with the team for at least one more season. Njoku spent the first five seasons of his career with the Browns.
Source: The #Browns tagged TE David Njoku. The first one.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2022
David Njoku Franchise Tagged by Cleveland Browns
Njoku was a stalwart on the Browns offense. The tight end produced highly in the last three years of his career and always seems on the verge of a breakout season. His 2021 production was solid – 53 targets, 36 receptions 475 yards, 4 TDs.
He is an effective blocker, getting better in pass protection. As a receiver, Njoku has done his best work in straight lines where his long speed and leaping ability have come into play. Additionally, he has also been a weapon in the screen game.
In Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Njoku caught 7 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, with the score coming off a 71-yard catch and run. The Browns would go on to lose 47-42 in a thriller. In 2021, Njoku was second in receiving yards. He earned high praise for being a more effective catcher than most of Cleveland’s receivers that year.
On April 27, 2020, the Browns exercised the fifth-year option on Njoku’s contract. Njoku was placed on injured reserve on September 14, 2020, with a knee injury, a day after he posted 3 catches for 50 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. He was activated on October 10. Njoku was a vital piece to Cleveland’s offense in the Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, catching 2 passes for 59 yards.
In Week 2 of the 2019 season, Njoku was upended and landed on his head. He left the game against the New York Jets due to a concussion. It was later revealed that Njoku suffered a broken wrist on the same play. He was placed on injured reserve on September 20, 2019, then activated on December 7, 2019
2018 was a rather successful year for the tight end. He played in all 16 games with 14 starts, recording 56 catches for 639 yards and four touchdowns.
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