Tight end David Njoku is set to hit the open market and move on from the Cleveland Browns.
Njoku, who’s played the past nine seasons for the Browns and is an impending free agent, announced Monday on Instagram that it was time for him to find a new home.
“Cleveland, first off I love you,” he wrote. “These 9 years have been a beautiful journey. I’m am so grateful for all the memories we shared together. Thank you to The Haslams, Andrew Berry and the whole browns organization for everything!! All my teammates I shared the battle with I’m so grateful for you guys. 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❤️ #ChiefOut.”
Selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at No. 29 overall, Njoku has played 118 games (88 starts) for the Browns. He’s recorded 384 receptions for 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns. At his best when healthy, Njoku is a freakish athlete who has produced some stellar numbers, such as in his lone Pro Bowl campaign of 2023. Despite the Browns starting five quarterbacks that season, Njoku had career highs of 81 catches, 882 yards and six touchdowns.
Njoku inked a four-year, $56.75 million extension with the Browns in the spring of 2022 and followed it up with his aforementioned sensational season. After 2023, though, Njoku’s production declined in each season as he missed a combined 11 games due to injuries.
This past season, he had 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns, with rookie Harold Fannin Jr. emerging as the Browns’ top target with team highs of 72 receptions, 731 yards and six TD catches.
Kyle Pitts is expected to be the top tight end in free agency if he doesn’t re-sign with the Atlanta Falcons. Should Pitts test the market, new Falcons head coach and old Browns HC Kevin Stefanski will have an opening. Njoku had his career 2023 campaign with Stefanski, but also had his disappointing 2025 season with him, as well.
“He and I have a very unique relationship,” Stefanski said of Njoku previously. “He thinks I didn’t like him when I first got here, which is not true.”
Where Njoku ultimately lands will have to wait for free agency, but he’s let it be known he’s leaving The Land.