Browns Predicted to Cut Ties With David Njoku After Draft Decision

The Cleveland Browns may have attempted to replace fan favorite David Njoku during the NFL draft. The team selected Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr., a decision that didn’t come as much of a surprise for a few different reasons. 

Fannin was very good during his time at Bowling Green, and the Browns only have one more season with Njoku under contract.

Some believe that he could be dealt over the next few weeks to months, including a recent trade idea from Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated recently proposed the idea of sending Njoku to the Miami Dolphins, who recently landed Darren Waller and traded Jonnu Smith.

“One of the top potential trade candidates for Cleveland is former Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku, who is entering the final year of his contract and just watched the Browns select fellow tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in the draft. While actual trade speculation surrounding Njoku has been relatively tame over the last several months, many are now pointing to a new possible destination for the 29-year-old: the Miami Dolphins,” Sports Illustrated’s Matthew Schmidt wrote.

Why Would the Browns Trade Njoku?

Regarding why trading Njoku could make sense for the Cleveland Browns, it was recently outlined by Pro Football Network. They touched on the fact that Njoku only has one more season on his deal, and the decision to bring in Fannin. 

It remains uncertain what type of role Fannin will have after being selected in the third round, but the hope and expectation is for him to have a decent rookie year. With Njoku in the mix, it’ll certainly take away touches from the youngster. 

“Njoku is nearing the end of his second contract, with 2025 being the last year of his deal,” Sterling Xie wrote. “Cleveland potentially implemented a succession plan during the draft, using a third-round pick on Harold Fannin Jr. The Bowling Green tight end will need to adjust to a massive jump in competition, but the 2024 FBS leader in receiving yards could be a passing game weapon right away.”

Would Having Waller Prevent the Dolphins From Making a Trade?

The Miami Dolphins have continued to make some very questionable moves in the past, and their decision to land Waller in a trade with the New York Giants only added to that list. 

Similar to the Cleveland Browns, the Dolphins have just not gotten anything right over the past few years, which is a reflection of why their team sits where it does. 

For Waller, however, it’s possible that things could work out. 

When speaking about why he retired the first time, he admitted that he didn’t love how the Giants were using him. In other parts of his career, and the Dolphins will have to hope for this, he posted 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns a few years ago.

“I knew I was retiring when we played in Buffalo,” Waller said. “It was a game where it was really controversial because one of the guys held me at the end, and they didn’t call it. It was in the first quarter of the game, we were running like this counter-lead running play, and I’m kind of like leading through the hole like I’m a fullback. And the play is working, but I sit down on the sideline after a drive where we ran it like three times, and I’m like, ‘What the expletive am I doing with my life? I’m out here playing fullback. I don’t even wanna do this expletive anymore.’