Former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku visited with the Baltimore Ravens.
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Former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku visited with the Baltimore Ravens.
David Njoku will not be returning to the Cleveland Browns, but he may not leave the AFC North.
Njoku visited with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He played out the final year of his contract with the Browns and announced earlier this offseason that he would not be returning. He had expressed previously that his preference would have been to remain with Cleveland.
“Cleveland, first off I love you,” Njoku wrote on Instagram. “These 9 years have been a beautiful journey. The time for me to find a new home has come and all I can think of is just the gratefulness in my heart. The city of Cleveland will forever be home.”
Njoku is one of a handful of veteran offensive players the Browns have let walk in recent seasons. Nick Chubb moved on last season, and a majority of last year’s starting offensive line will have new homes this year. Most recently, Wyatt Teller — a three-time Pro Bowler with the Browns — signed with the Houston Texans.
David Njoku Turned Into Pro Bowl Weapon With Browns
Njoku arrived in Cleveland as a first-round pick in 2017 with elite athleticism and pass-catching upside, but evolved into much more over time. Under Kevin Stefanski, he developed into a complete, every-down tight end, sharpening his blocking while remaining a dynamic receiving threat. That leap earned him a four-year, $56.75 million extension in 2022.
Njoku churned out his only Pro Bowl season in 2023, snagging 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns. He’s dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, appearing in 23 games. Njoku ranks second in Browns history among tight ends with 384 receptions and 34 touchdowns, trailing only Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome.
The Ravens have Mark Andrews on their roster, but lost Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to free agency. Njoku could come in and find a solid role with the Ravens under new head coach Jesse Minter.
Browns Set at Tight End With Harold Fannin
Njoku became an expendable piece of the roster with the emergence of Harold Fannin Jr. The Browns selected Fannin in the third round and he exceeded expectations.
During his breakout rookie season, Fannin caught 72 catches, 731 yards, and six touchdowns, leading the team in just about every major receiving category. Fannin looks like a future Pro Bowler and someone the Browns can build around on offense in Todd Monken’s new system.
The Browns did make an addition at tight end during free agency, bringing in Jack Stoll. He is entering his sixth NFL season after spending last year with the New Orleans Saints, where he appeared in 15 games with four starts, totaling six catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2021, Stoll has carved out a role as a reliable, blue-collar tight end. Across 61 career regular-season games with the Eagles and a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, he’s posted 22 receptions for 193 yards while making his mark as a blocker and core special teamer.