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David Njoku had only ever played for the Cleveland Browns.
But in the 2026 NFL season, the athletic tight end will be a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Njoku has signed a one-year free agent contract with the Chargers that's worth $8 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The news was reported first thing Monday morning.
The 29-year old Njoku was a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Miami. He's coming off a quiet season of 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns.
In his nine-year Browns tenure, he had 384 catches for 4,062 yards and 34 TDs.
Now, he heads to the Chargers to join talented QB Justin Herbert.
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Why did the Browns let David Njoku leave?
After two injury-plagued seasons in a row, the Browns decided to move in a different direction at tight end.
With Harold Fannin Jr. having emerged immediately as a rookie, Cleveland knew it had a new leader at this position.
They drafted a pair of tight ends, Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan, and they return Blake Whiteheart. They also signed Jack Stoll in free agency.
This is mostly about Fannin, and about not wanting to overpay Njoku at this stage in his career.
Why did the Chargers want David Njoku?
The Chargers are clearly focused on TE depth.
They already have Oronde Gadsden, who himself was a standout rookie, and they signed Charlie Kolar in free agency.
Beyond them, there was essentially nothing of note on the depth chart. Now, the Chargers have quality performers throughout the tight end room.
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