New England Patriots rumors: David Njoku well worth the asking price
If the New England Patriots have any interest in tight end David Njoku, here is what it may take to entice the Cleveland Browns.
Whenever a talented player is disgruntled in his current situation, cue Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
With former first-round pick David Njoku reportedly not happy playing for the Cleveland Browns, it would appear the perfect trade partner would be a team like the Patriots who could use all the tight end help they can get at the position.
Money wise, the 24-year-old Njoku is set to make a base salary of $1,763,910. Certainly, an affordable number for the New England Patriots. But what is the asking price in order to obtain him. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, a mid-round draft pick may entice a Browns team that seem content on keeping Njoku as a second tight end option.
The Browns have known for about a year that David Njoku was unhappy in Cleveland and would welcome a trade, I’m told. They were not blindsided by this. Early predictions from sources with other teams is Njoku might be worth a 4th or 5th round pick.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 4, 2020
If that really is all the Browns would expect in return for a tight end who caught 56 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns in 2018, then that is a no-brainer for Bill Belichick.
With the way Cam Newton loves to use his tight ends, a talent like David Njoku along with rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene would give the Patriots offense three young talented tight end options to utilize in the offense.
Given the fact that both of those players were selected in the third round, giving up a fourth or fifth round draft pick for a first-round talent is certainly a Belichick move, even if David Njoku ends up being a one-and-done player in New England.
Can the Cleveland Browns be swayed to trade David Njoku
In signing Austin Hooper in free agency, it would appear the Cleveland Browns have prepared themselves to part ways with David Njoku.
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Following an injury plagued season in 2019, the hope is obviously that he comes back healthy and the tight end duo becomes two-headed monster with the Browns. In an offense led by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt at running back and Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry at wide receiver, opposing defenses would lose sleep game-planning for Baker Mayfield and crew.
So, obviously, it would be ideal for the Browns to keep Njoku. But, if he continues to make it known that he is unhappy in his situation, picking up the phone and working out a deal with the Patriots wouldn’t be surprising at all.
These two teams have worked out similar types of deals in the past. Most recently, the Browns have shipped high-caliber talent like Josh Gordon and Danny Shelton to the Patriots for mid-round picks.
As far as how David Njoku would fit in the New England Patriots offense?
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He would come in as the top tight end option as long as he is healthy, and he is focused on football. Whether he is catching the ball from Cam Newton or Jarrett Stidham, Njoku is a 6-foot-4, 247-pound target who could at least replicate his 2018 numbers.
In that respect, David Njoku is well worth the asking price…if indeed that is all the Browns would look for in return.