What’s Next For David Njoku?

When the Browns made Austin Hooper the NFL’s highest-paid tight end (four years $44 million) on Monday, they raised questions about their belief in David Njoku.

Hooper’s arrival does not necessarily mean Njoku’s departure. Njoku, a 2017-first round pick, is scheduled to make just three million dollars this season, and all of that money would count against the Browns’ salary cap if they cut him.

A trade doesn’t make much sense, either. Njoku’s value peaked after his career-best 2018 season in which he caught 56 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns. But it suffered a hit after least year’s wrist injury that caused him to miss 12 of 16 games in 2019.

The Browns have until May 3 to accept or decline Njoku’s fifth-year option. If they accept, Njoku’s salary will be the average of the third through 25th-highest paid tight ends in the league.

At a position where $11 million per year makes you the highest-paid player, that still might not make Njoku expensive. But the Browns could also find a much cheaper option if they don’t deem Njoku worth that contract. Who’s trying to spend real money on their second tight end?

New Browns coach Kevin Stefanski might consider it if Njoku can prove he’s worth it. As the Vikings’ offensive coordinator last season, Stefanski employed more two-tight end formations than any other team in the league.

When asked about Njoku at the combine, Stefanski said the Browns have “big plans” for Njoku.

“I think there’s an obvious skill set there,” Stefanski said. “It’s a big year for David, and a lot of that is gonna be up to him and the work that he puts in to this. We have big plans for him, but it’s about for him coming back in the building and working. And then ultimately seeing if we can utilize him in role that will take advantage of his skill set.”

Njoku could significantly help his case if he improved as a blocker. He finished as Pro Football Focus’ 104th-ranked pass-blocking tight end and its 11th-ranked run-blocking tight end in 2018, his last full season.

Coaches reward tight ends who put effort into blocking, and Stefanski said he’s seen receiver-first tight ends improve their blocking skills before.

“There’s certainly a leaning curve,” Stefanski said. “I’ve seen it happen, though. I’ve seen some players be diligent about their work with their position coaches and getting good at it.”

Still, teams don’t typically spend $44 million on position groups about which they feel secure. And while Njoku has shown flashes of fulfilling his tantalizing potential, he’s also frustrated Browns fans and coaches with his dropped passes.

In Hooper, they acquired the type of tight end the Browns hoped Njoku would become when they drafted him. Assuming they don’t release or trade him soon, Njoku still has a chance to play his way into Cleveland’s long-term plans.

But by adding Hooper, the Browns prepared themselves for a scenario in which he doesn’t.