Njoku, a 6-foot-4, 246-pound first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in 2017, announced on Instagram that he won’t remain with Cleveland. He has earned roughly $70 million in his career through the 2025 season and thanked the Browns organization and city of Cleveland while signaling a new home is on the horizon.
In this free-agent cycle, Njoku is part of a trio of top tight-ends likely on the move, alongside Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely and Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts. Pitts is anticipated to command the highest money, while Njoku’s market value is projected by Spotrac at about two years for $20 million.
The Commanders’ 2025 season featured a brutal shift at tight end after a strong display from Zach Ertz, who provided productive targets before suffering a catastrophic knee injury in Week 14 against Minnesota. With Ertz’s future now uncertain and contract dynamics at play, Washington could look to Njoku to stabilize the position for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Njoku could offer a reliable target in the offense, potentially easing the transition for Daniels, but his price point remains a consideration for the Commanders given the team’s broader cap and roster plans.
Over the past two seasons, Njoku has missed 11 games and posted 33 receptions for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025—the lowest totals since 2019, when injuries limited his play. This injury history is a factor commanders would weigh as they evaluate a potential long-term investment at tight end.
This outlook comes from Heavy Sports, which notes Njoku as a plausible free-agent target for Washington as the team weighs a defensive upgrade at No. 7 in the 2026 draft and a possible value signing at tight end.
