Tight end David Njoku is one of the best players on the Cleveland Browns, but the rebuilding organization could trade their aging tight end ahead of the 2025 season. A first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Miami product has developed into one of the league’s more reliable all-around tight ends during his eight years in the league. Appearing in 11 games last year, Njoku finished the season with 64 receptions for 505 yards, five touchdowns, and a 64.0 PFF grade despite dealing with subpar quarterback play throughout the season.
Despite remaining a reliable presence, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay thinks the Browns could trade David Njoku in the coming months. In a recent article, the NFL analyst explained why he believes the team should send their homegrown talent to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
“The Los Angeles Chargers should come calling if Njoku is up for grabs,” Kay writes. “The team desperately needs to improve its tight end situation after failing to land an elite prospect in the 2025 draft and currently has an unexciting veteran duo of Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly set to handle most of the work at the position this season.”
Chargers, Browns Linked In David Njoku Trade Rumors
It’s easy to see why the Los Angeles Chargers would want to trade for David Njoku. After making the playoffs in what most believed to be a rebuild year, head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert have the Chargers ready to compete for a Super Bowl. The team spent the offseason bolstering the trenches and getting more physical, notably adding guard Mekhi Becton, running back Najee Harris, and several key contributors on defense. However, they didn’t do all that much to upgrade the passing attack.
Second-round pick Ladd McConkey looked like the real deal as a rookie, but the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired. Quentin Johnston is nothing special, Mike Williams is coming off a rough 2024, and second-round rookie Tre Harris is untested. These three, combined with the aforementioned tight end duo, means Herbert will struggle to go blow-for-blow with the elite passing attacks in the AFC. Harbaugh wants to win games on the ground, but they need another weapon to improve their aerial attack.
Because of this, a David Njoku trade makes all the sense in the world. Tight ends thrive under Harbaugh, and Herbert hasn’t had a truly reliable weapon in years. The only question is whether the Browns would agree to such a low return. While Njoku is in the final year of his contract and the Browns will not compete in 2025, they might prefer to keep the tight end on the roster.
Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders will fight for the starting job, and having a reliable tight end on the roster could help one of these two players develop into a franchise quarterback. That alone justifies keeping David Njoku, even if they risk losing him in the upcoming offseason.
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