The Cleveland Browns are 1-5 and look like a team that'll be active at the trade deadline in selling off players. They have plenty of intriguing names, like Ethan Pocic, Jerome Ford, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin, but one name is more intriguing than the rest.
Tight end David Njoku is a name that has propped up in trade speculation since the start of the season, especially since rookie Harold Fannin Jr. has looked so good to begin the season. But Njoku is still garnering intrigue around the NFL and is, at the very least, a name to watch as the deadline approaches.
However, Zac Jackson of The Athletic, amid a deep dive into different Browns trade candidates, revealed why a trade of Njoku would be a tricky one for the Browns to make. While there may be interest, a trade might not be the best course of action for Cleveland.
Why a David Njoku Browns trade might not happen
To understand why a trade of Njoku might be hard, it's important to understand two things: the monetary side of things and how much the Browns could get in return for trading Njoku.
"Njoku is only under contract for the rest of the season." Jackson writes. "He's due to count about $24 million on next year's salary cap form the Browns using an up-front cash payment to stretch out his deal in 2023."
That huge cap hit in 2026 could get even worse if the Browns make a trade. As Jackson writes, "If they trade him, all of his remaining money will count on next year's cap."
But, if they elect to keep Njoku, the browns could rework his contract for another year, or more, in Cleveland to spread out his cap hit. Trading him would erase that chance, putting all $24 million on the Browns' plate in 2026.
But if the return for Njoku is good enough, the Browns could justify taking on all that money in 2026. However, that's not the case. Jackson also reports that "It's hard to see Njoku bringing back more than a fifth-round pick."
More: Dillon Gabriel debut grades: Browns rookie QB proves he's a gamer despite loss to Vikings
A fifth-round pick shouldn't be enough for the Browns to lose Njoku and get saddled with a huge $24 million cap hit in 2026. If he brought back a fourth-rounder or more, then it might be more of a conversation.
But, with Njoku's knee injury, which he sustained in the Week 6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, his value is seemingly lower than it was earlier in the year.
Between Njoku's contract all hitting in 2026 if he's dealt, the likelihood that Cleveland won't land a strong return for him, along with the injury, has Njoku as an unlikely trade candidate.
In theory, moving Njoku in the final year of his deal to open a path for Fannin makes a lot of sense. But with these three factors at play, an Njoku trade doesn't seem very likely.
They've already made a couple of trades, sending Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals and Greg Newsome II to the Jacksonville Jaguars. An Njoku trade wouldn't be surprising, but there are a lot of complications to a trade that the Browns need to consider that might make such a trade a hard one for the Browns to make.
More Browns News:
- Browns’ Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski’s ‘youth evaluation’ plan delivers Shedeur Sanders long-awaited chance
- Joe Flacco trade winners and losers: Ja'Marr Chase, Shedeur Sanders headline impact of bizarre Browns-Bengals deal
- Browns QB depth chart: Where Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders stand after Joe Flacco traded to Bengals
- Browns' Quinshon Judkins matches Nick Chubb in Cleveland RB history with rookie record