Browns’ Trade Proposal Paves Way for David Njoku’s Successor

The Cleveland Browns have emerged as a potential trade destination for former Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Pitts, who has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations that came with being selected No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

Pitts is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and his future in Atlanta appears increasingly uncertain. After a stellar rookie season, where he hauled in 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and earned Pro Bowl honors, his production has dipped considerably. Over four seasons, Pitts has totaled 196 catches for 2,651 yards and 10 touchdowns, falling short of the generational tight end label he carried coming out of Florida.

The Browns could see Pitts as a buy-low candidate with upside. He’s a tight end in the same mold as David Njoku — an athletic, pass-catching threat capable of stretching the field and creating mismatches against defenders.

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With Njoku in the final year of his contract and no guarantee of a long-term extension, Cleveland could view Pitts as a potential successor or complementary piece in its evolving offense. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox linked the Browns to Pitts as part of his recent roundup of trade fits following minicamp.

“The Cleveland Browns may also want to kick the tires on Pitts,” Knox wrote. “They’ve shown a willingness to add promising players who have underwhelmed before — they traded for Jerry Jeudy last offseason — and could view Pitts as a potential long-term contributor. Cleveland did just draft Harold Fannin Jr. in Round 3, but David Njoku is entering the final year of his contract.”

Adding Pitts would align with the Browns’ recent trend of targeting former high draft picks looking for a fresh start. The team took a similar swing by acquiring Jeudy, and Pitts could benefit from a change of scenery and a new offensive system.

Kyle Pitts Trade Not Logical for Browns

Taking a swing and trading for Pitts with the assumption he could step up his game in Cleveland would be a big risk for the Browns, who have an uncertain situation at quarterback. It would cost the team assets to land him and there’s questions about his fit as a long-term piece.

Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer laid out that Pitts being traded is unlikely, considering his salary and recent production.

“He’s no longer valued like he was by anyone as he had been before the 2021 draft,” Breer wrote. “And now he’s playing on a $10.88 million fifth-year option. This means another team would have to have a pretty high level of confidence it could get more out of him than the Falcons.

“More likely is that another team would view acquiring Pitts as taking a flier on a player who hasn’t lived up to expectations. It’s unlikely, as I see it, that such a team would be willing to give up the kind of pick that would entice Atlanta to deal him and pay him almost $11 million.”

The Browns will get a clearer picture of what their offense will look like in late-July, when the team gathers for training camp.