Former Browns tight end David Njoku and Blake Whiteheart.
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Former Browns tight end David Njoku and Blake Whiteheart.
The Cleveland Browns are keeping a familiar piece in place as they continue shaping their offense under new head coach Todd Monken.
Cleveland has re-signed tight end Blake Whiteheart, bringing him back after opting not to tender him as a restricted free agent earlier this offseason. Despite that decision, the Browns clearly valued what he brings and he’ll remain with the team for a third straight year. The team announced the move on Monday.
“Bringing back a big part of our tight end room! We’ve re-signed TE Blake Whiteheart,” the team’s post read.
Whiteheart carved out a role last season, appearing in all 17 games with four starts after bouncing between the practice squad and active roster in 2024. Across two seasons in Cleveland, he’s totaled eight receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Whiteheart appeared in two games as a rookie before landing with the Browns. He now returns to a tight end room that’s starting to take shape. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. headlines the group, with Jack Stoll added this offseason. Sal Cannella and Caden Prieskorn round out the depth.
Ex-Browns TE David Njoku Remains Unsigned
Whiteheart returns but the Browns don’t appear to be entertaining the idea of bringing back David Njoku. 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 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.
Todd Monken Tasked With Fixing Browns Offense
The Browns hired Monken this season to fix an offense that has been among the NFL’s least effective units the last few years. It’s Monken’s first crack at a head coaching gig in the NFL, but he understands the task in front of him.
“There’s a reason why I was hired here,” Monken said. “Let’s not kid ourselves. I was hired to become elite on offense and that’s what we’re going to fight every day to be, and I’m fired up because I think we have a chance to really take off. I think the time is right now to take off and really build it the way you want, so you’re consistently competing for championships.”
If the Browns can get even modest improvement from their offense, it should translate to a better result than last season’s 5-12 finish.