Sitting at 1-5, the Cleveland Browns might shake things up at the trade deadline. This roster is full of names that could draw attention, from Ethan Pocic to Wyatt Teller. Even Jerome Ford and Jack Conklin might get calls. But there’s one name that turns heads faster than the rest: tight end David Njoku.

Right now, Njoku is battling a knee injury. But as per The Athletic, “If Njoku is healthy, he should garner some outside interest. The Browns have to consider trading him, given the overall state of the offense and that [Harold] Fannin is signed through 2028, but what they could get in return is unclear.”

Njoku has been in Cleveland for nine seasons, mostly as the No. 1 tight end. So if the Browns decide to part ways with him, that’s a major blow for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who’s already struggling to find rhythm in this offense. Then came Harold Fannin Jr., the rookie who’s quietly been splitting snaps with Njoku this season.

The 28-year-old has been a loyal part of this offense, signing two extensions and becoming a reliable red-zone threat. Yet, with Fannin waiting in the wings, it might be time for the front office to see what kind of value Njoku could bring on the trade market. But it won’t be so simple.

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Njoku’s contract runs only through this season. Next year, he’s set to count nearly $24 million against the cap, all thanks to the Browns front-loading his deal back in 2023. An extension could fix that, spreading out the money and giving the team flexibility. But if they trade him now, every last dollar of that cap hit lands next year, which could seriously limit their moves in free agency.

In theory, moving Njoku in the final year of his deal to make room for Fannin makes perfect sense. So, only time will tell if the Browns actually pull that trigger. But now, let’s look at what Kevin Stefanski shared about Deshaun Watson.

More responsibility for Dillon Gabriel

The Browns might be heading into the toughest stretch of their season, and it’s without any certainty around Deshaun Watson. There’s a growing chance the star quarterback won’t see the field at all this year after rupturing his Achilles for a second time back in January. He’s been recovering from surgery ever since.

And Coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t provide a clear answer about his return window when asked on Wednesday. “No real update there other than he’s doing a great job at rehabbing good job in meetings,” Stefanski said. Meanwhile, the Browns have already gone through quite the quarterback carousel.

In the offseason, they brought in Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett to add experience and competition. But neither stuck around for long. This year, Browns added Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 draft. Now, Gabriel holds the QB1 spot, with Sanders waiting in the wings.

Through four games, Gabriel sits at a passer rating of 81.2 with 430 yards and three touchdowns. Not bad for a rookie, but not enough to move the needle yet. As for Sanders, his regular-season debut remains a waiting game.

So now Stefanski is still searching for his first NFL win, and it won’t come easy as the 1-5 Browns head into a tough matchup against the Miami Dolphins this weekend.