After playing just four games in 2019, David Njoku has consistently improved over the last four seasons and has grown into one of the best in the NFL at his position.
A serious burn accident last season could not stop Njoku, who played just days later despite having some serious burns that left his skin blistering and bubbling. The Browns’ top tight end had a career-high in both yards (882) and touchdowns (6) in 16 games.
Njoku’s build and athleticism help him stand out and head coach Kevin Stefasnki has done a great job of utilizing him. It is large part of why he was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2023.
“You know over the years, there’s tight ends that you can line up out wide in the backfield, in line. Dave’s done a little bit of everything for us over the years,” Stefanski explained on Monday. “Not every tight end can do that. But anytime you put a tight end outside, typically, it’s the physicality. The corners are not used to going against guys at 250 pounds, maybe 225 pounds max with wide receivers. So just the physicality of how those guys can bump the ball and get in and out of their routes and use their body are some of the things you can see with big tight ends.”
There are times that the Browns line Njoku up out wide at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds and he is a huge matchup problem when he does so. In the past, the Browns have used him a bunch in the screen game and he is a nightmare to bring down once he gets going. The speed that Njoku brings at his size and athletic build is probably next to none in the NFL.
“I mean, you go into every game thinking specifically about your guys and Dave’s top of the list, you know, with who we’re trying to get the ball to,” Stefanski said. “And then you really, as an offense, you design plays where he’s primary or you feel really good that you’re going to get a certain look, and then it’s the quarterback’s job to distribute the ball accordingly. So, we’ve gone into games where we didn’t think it’d be a big game for a tight end, and all of a sudden you walk away and they’ve got a ton of catches. So, it’s really based on how the defense deploys, is where that ball goes. But no secret that we’re trying to get David the ball.”
Njoku was especially good down the final stretch of last season and built a connection with quarterback Joe Flacco. In the final four games, Njoku crossed the century mark twice and over 90 yards three
The 2024 season is where Njoku could cross 1,000 yards in a season for the first time in his career. Behind Amari Cooper, Njoku is the top pass catcher for Cleveland and this season could be the first time that he gets a full season with quarterback Deshaun Watson.
