The Browns‘ tight end, David Njoku, will no longer remain in Cleveland. With the franchise focused on getting younger on offense, Njoku’s path is clear: he plans to test free agency and search for a new team. The veteran confirmed the decision in his latest Instagram post:

“Cleveland, first off, I love you. These 9 years have been a beautiful journey. I’m so grateful for all the memories we shared together,” he wrote on Monday. “Thank you to the Haslams, Andrew Berry, and the whole Browns organization for everything!! All my teammates, I shared the battle with. I’m so grateful for you guys.

“The time for me to find a new home has come, and all I can think of is just the gratefulness in my heart. The city of Cleveland will forever be home.”

It’s difficult to predict where Njoku will end up in free agency after spending years with the team, but a reunion with his former head coach, Kevin Stefanski, in Atlanta could be a possibility. Working alongside the coach would be better than starting from scratch in a new system. Meanwhile, Over the Cap has projected the team’s salary cap at $26.46 million. With some adjustments and negotiations, they could strike a deal with him. Whatever the case, Njoku’s playmaking abilities and vast experience will not go unnoticed during free agency, which begins next month.

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According to the latest NFL trade rumors, three teams may be interested in hiring him: the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Giants, and the Miami Dolphins. But his departure will surely leave a hole in quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ offense in Cleveland. Njoku’s exit also comes at a time when Sanders is still finding his rhythm in the league.

The Cleveland Browns had a rough 5-12 finish this season, missing the playoffs for the second time in a row. It’s a hard pill to swallow, as their defense ranked among the top five in the league. But offensively, it was a big letdown. Cleveland had an unstable quarterback room, with Sanders buried on the depth chart behind veteran Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel earlier in the season. But when it slipped to 2-8, the former Colorado player got a rare chance to flex his muscles.

He posted a 3-4 record in his seven appearances as a starting QB, showing some promise. In these games, he went 120-of-212 for 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He also contributed 169 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Yet, his ten interceptions and 23 sacks highlighted his growing pains. While the passing was mediocre at best, Njoku’s presence brought some energy to the offense.

It wasn’t an explosive year for the tight end, however, as a knee injury limited him to twelve appearances.

He finished the 2025 season with 33 receptions on 48 targets and just 293 yards and four touchdowns. But looking at the bigger picture, he has been one of Cleveland’s most reliable weapons.

Chosen in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Njoku went on to build a notable career with the Browns, finishing only three catches away from ranking second all-time among the franchise’s tight ends in receptions. He reached the Pro Bowl once with the team after their memorable 2023 season.

Over nine seasons, he totaled 384 receptions, 4,062 yards, and 34 touchdowns, serving as a safety net for multiple quarterbacks. Most importantly, he served as an anchor for many young players on the team, including Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Despite Sanders’ limited production last year, Njoku publicly backed him.

“Exceptional,” Njoku said of Sanders in October 2025. “He’s an exceptional athlete. An exceptional quarterback.”

That said, his exit is no surprise. After all, general manager Andrew Berry had already warned that the offense was going to witness a significant turnover under new head coach Todd Monken. It is going to be a rebuild under his tenure. So, after playing all nine seasons of his NFL career, David Njoku is finally parting ways with the Browns. With the expiration of his four-year, $54.75 million contract, he plans to make the most of free agency.

But what happens to Cleveland’s TE position?

Here’s the thing: After the final regular-season game against the Bengals, Njoku mentioned he wanted to stay in Cleveland.

“I do, but it’s not up to me,” he said.

With rookie Harold Fannin Jr. emerging as a key player this season, Njoku understood that his role could be diminished and that things might not go his way.

That said, Cleveland has a couple of tight ends on its roster. One name that stands out is Harold Fannin Jr. Drafted in the third round in 2025, he was among the rare positives in Cleveland’s offense this past season. Fannin finished the year with 72 receptions, 731 receiving yards, and six touchdowns, leading the Browns in all three categories.

Now that the offense is set for a fresh direction under Monken, players like Fannin are expected to be central to the plan. That could open up doors for him to thrive.

Along with Fannin, the Browns currently have tight ends Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates on the roster. The team also added Caden Prieskorn and Sal Cannella this month on reserve/future deals.