Nine-year veteran tight end David Njoku signed a new one-year, $8 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. Njoku, a former first-round pick, spent the entirety of his career with the Cleveland Browns.
David Njoku, Los Angeles Chargers, Sign Contract
Coming from a down season during the 2025 campaign, David Njoku entered free agency looking for a fresh start. Appearing in 12 games while making 11 starts, the Miami product finished the season with 33 receptions, 293 yards and 4 touchdowns, his fewest since the 2021 season. Njoku dealt with injuries most of that year, later announcing that he would not be returning to the team via Instagram. The Browns are back to rebuild mode under new head coach Todd Monken, so this wasn’t a surprise.
Njoku originally entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The rookie made his debut as a starter and somewhat made an impact, finishing with 32 catches for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Despite that, the Browns weren’t a winning team at that point under quarterback DeShone Kizer. It wasn’t until Baker Mayfield joined the squad in 2018 that Njoku made a major impact, recording 639 yards and four touchdowns.
Appearing in 16 games with 14 starts that season, Njoku established himself as an adequate tight end for Cleveland. In 2020, the Browns made it to the playoffs, where the team was 11-5 under Mayfield, and the veteran finished the 2020 regular season with 19 receptions for 213 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. During that year, the team defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers to capture their first playoff victory since 1994.
Despite trading Mayfield to the Browns in 2022, the team extended Njoku to a four-year extension. The veteran recorded 58 receptions for 628 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 14 games and starts. Cleveland would miss the postseason that season until veteran Joe Flacco led the team back to the playoffs during his NFL comeback tour, where Njoku recorded a Pro Bowl nod. Unfortunately for Njoku, the writing was on the wall when the Browns took tight end Harold Fanin Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Since signing his rookie contract, Njoku has appeared in 118 games while making 88 starts. During his time on the field, the former Miami product recorded 384 receptions for 4,062 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns.