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Tight ends Washington could consider trading for before 2020 NFL season

By Jacob Camenker

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during pregame before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during pregame before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 14: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the field during the player introduction prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 14: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the field during the player introduction prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

1. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

This seems like the obvious fit. The Browns made Austin Hooper one of the league’s highest-paid tight ends this offseason. They also drafted John Mackey Award winner Harrison Bryant in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Kevin Stefanski may like running two-tight-end sets more than any other offensive mind in the league. But even still, those additions don’t bode well for David Njoku. And that’s part of the reason that he requested a trade away from Cleveland.

Our own Ian Cummings made the case for Washington to trade for Njoku in a recent piece. Here’s what he had to say about Njoku at that time.

"Njoku would be an excellent buy-low addition. He was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and broke onto the scene in 2018 with 56 receptions, 639 yards, and four touchdowns. In 2019, however, Njoku missed 12 games with a broken wrist, only accumulating five catches. Njoku will need to rebound from a down season, but he undoubtedly has the talent to do so. He’s 6-foot-4, 246, with a 4.64 40-yard dash, a 133-inch broad jump, and a 37.5-inch vertical. Those are elite athletic numbers, and Njoku, heading into his fourth NFL season, has yet to turn 24 years old. [Washington has] an extra third-round pick in 2021 after trading Trent Williams to the 49ers, so they could feasibly afford to spend a fourth or fifth-round pick on a trade for Njoku. It would give Dwayne Haskins a surefire No. 1 target at the tight end position, as well as infuse the team with youth and upside at a position that has previously been very murky."

That’s certainly a sensible argument, and the draft capital exchange makes sense given that Njoku is effectively on a two-year deal. And as Cummings mentions, Njoku is still young and has plenty of upside remaining. Perhaps being paired with a new coaching staff that has gotten the most out of their tight ends over the years would help him live up to his potential.

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We’ll see if Njoku ends up being targeted by Washington via trade. If not, then the team could target some other options on this list or wait until 2021 to address the position.

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