NFL Rumors: David Njoku demands trade from Browns

Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku demands a trade out of The Land.

In an offseason where the Browns had already downgraded his role by landing former Atlanta Falcons TE Austin Hooper, who made the Pro Bowl just last season, David Njoku wants out.

There’s only one football to go around, and unfortunately for Njoku, Baker Mayfield already has Hooper, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Jarvis Landry to spread it around to. Not to mention, the Browns backfield of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is as formidable as they come. While Kevin Stefanski has expressed excitement about a two-TE set, and highlighting the plethora of options Mayfield has at his disposal, Njoku isn’t about to wait around to be a second-tier option if he has anything to say about it. The former first-round pick doesn’t become an unrestricted free agent until 2022.

Browns TE David Njoku might not be long for Cleveland, and he wants out.

It doesn’t help matters that the Browns also selected TE Harrison Bryant out of Florida Atlanta in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, all but signaling that Njoku’s targets are bound to go way down this year.

Njoku was placed on IR in September of last season thanks to a wrist injury, and only had five catches on the season in four games. Back in 2018, he was deemed one of the more exciting receiving threats at the position. At just 22 years old (at the time) he had 639 receiving yards in a breakout season.

Such a trade request comes at an inopportune time for Cleveland as they prepare for training camp. Had Njoku made his feelings known before the NFL Draft, the Browns could’ve recouped some capital in the former of late-round picks. Now, they’re left with scraps or forced to look ahead to 2021’s showcase.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, they became accustomed to playing with Njoku last season. They ought to get used to such a predicament after his latest trade request.