The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with tight end David Njoku on a long-term extension, per NFL Network's Ian Rapaport. The deal comes after the Browns franchise tagged Njoku back in March.
The #Browns and franchise tagged TE David Njoku have reached an agreement in principle on a large new 4-year, $56.75M contract extension, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. He gets $28M guaranteed at signing on the deal that averages $14.1875M per year, the fifth highest paid TE.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 27, 2022
As stated by Rapaport, Njoku's annual salary of just over $14 million will make him the fifth-highest paid tight end in football. It's the second time in the last three years that the Browns have paid big money to a tight end. Back in 2020, they signed Austin Hooper to a four-year, $44 million deal, which made him the highest-paid TE at the time. Hooper was then released this offseason before eventually landing with the Titans.
Njoku was selected in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2017 NFL Draft. Despite the godly contract numbers, he hasn't exactly put up stats reflective of that in his career. Granted, he's spent time splitting reps and targets with Hooper for a few seasons. Njoku and former Browns starting QB Baker Mayfield never seemed to be on the same page either.
Now, the tight end spot is his and he gets to catch passes from Deshaun Watson at some point. In five total seasons, Njoku has started 36 of the 65 games and has caught 148 passes for 1,754 yards. His best season came in 2018, just his second year in the league. Then, he started 14 games, while racking up career-highs in catches (56) and yards (639).
The Browns head into the season with huge expectations, led by the acquisitions of Watson and star WR Amari Cooper. Kevin Stefanski enters his second season as head coach after missing the playoffs last season. Njoku will be expected to be a big part of the Browns' offense, particularly after a $56 million extension.
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