David Njoku reportedly wants out of Cleveland, and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would be wise to put in a call.
Njoku’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday the Browns tight end has asked for a trade.
Njoku, who wants to be traded before training camp starts July 28, finds himself on a crowded Cleveland depth chart that includes newly signed starter Austin Hooper and fourth-rounder Harrison Bryant.
Enter Belichick.
Belichick and the Patriots began to address their glaring need at tight end with draftees Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. However, Keene is more of an H-Back than a pass-catching tight end. And while Asiasi could become the starter, bringing in the 23-year-old Njoku would bolster the position group.
Njoku is a talented pass catcher with impressive speed (4.6 40-yard dash) and size (6-foot-4, 246 pounds). Although he was impacted by a wrist injury and a concussion last season, the 2017 first-round pick recorded 56 receptions for 639 yards with four touchdowns in 2018. He ranked among the top 10 tight ends in receiving yards that season.
What also makes a potential Njoku-to-Patriots trade so intriguing is the finances. Njoku is owed $1.76 million in 2020 with a $3 million cap hit, per Spotrac. So, while the Patriots don’t have much cap space, they should be able to make some arrangements for a modest contract.
Now, we wait and perhaps watch Belichick work.
