David Njoku spent nine years of his career with the Cleveland Browns before he bade farewell in February this year. As he begins a new chapter with the Los Angeles Chargers, an expert suggests that his new team would be a better fit than the Browns ever were.

“Njoku will have the benefit of playing with two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert, who’s started the past six seasons and performed at a high level,” insider and Cleveland.com analyst Mary Kay Cabot wrote on May 10.  

Her stance comes after the tight end signed a one-year contract, worth $8 million, with the AFC rivals on May 10.

The Chargers can provide Njoku a stable quarterback depth chart, which the Browns never could, as Cabot further highlights the difference.

“In that same timeframe, Njoku has played with 14 Browns quarterbacks, including five in 2023 and four in 2024,” the May 11 article read. “Overall, he played with 16 different QBs here since 2017.”

The Browns drafted Njoku at the age of 20. He was their round one pick and 29th overall in the 2017 draft. He is entering a new team after playing in 118 games, 384 receptions for 4,062 receiving yards.

However, he struggled to find his footing.

Cleveland’s unstable quarterback situation hurt offensive consistency. Last season, Dillon Gabriel posted an 80.8 passer rating, while after replacing him, Shedeur Sanders came up with a 68.1 passer rating.

Njoku now heads to Los Angeles, where two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert has been a steady presence under center for the past six seasons. Herbert posted the best passer rating of his career at 101.7 in 2024 and registered a 94.1 mark last season.

Why Did The Chargers Pick David Njoku?

The Chargers’ tight end room now consists of Njoku, per ESPN, who is second on the depth chart, while Oronde Gadsden is the starting tight end, followed by Charlie Kolar (TE3), and Tanner McLachlan (TE4).

According to a report by Sports Illustrated, Mike McDaniel, who was the Miami Dolphins' head coach before joining the Chargers, has used tight end sets frequently.

While the average NFL team recorded a minus-0.06 EPA out of 22 personnel, McDaniel’s Miami turned the formation into a major strength with a 19.9 EPA.

Last season, the Chargers also relied heavily on the setup, ranking sixth in usage, but produced a minus-10.94 EPA. Adding Njoku could help change that, thanks to his dual-threat ability as a receiver and blocker.

Another report by The Sporting News suggests that Njoku's addition to the TE room will bring a veteran's experience without overshadowing his rookie counterparts.

"This move could simply be insurance for Oronde, as entering his second season with no other receiving tight end on the roster, he has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to deliver," wrote Adama Schultz.

Time to see what parting ways with the Browns after nine years brings for Njoku. Share your thoughts.

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar