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The Cleveland Browns may be one of the worst teams in the NFL halfway through the season, but one veteran didn’t want to see himself shipped away before the league’s trade deadline on Tuesday.
Tight end David Njoku has spent his entire career in Cleveland since being drafted 29th overall in 2017. Over the past nine seasons, he has represented the Browns on and off the field as one of their leaders and has loved every second of it.
Cleveland has gone 55-84-1 since entering the league, but Njoku was passionate in his response to reporters who asked for his reaction to not being traded before the deadline.
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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) warms up for a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025. (Barry Reeger/Imagn Images)
“Obviously it’s always a possibility. This is the NFL,” Njoku said. “But I’m in Cleveland, honey. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving.”
Journalists followed up several times, prompting Njoku to grow louder.
“Jesus Christ, no,” he replied after a reporter asked if he would ever leave.
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The reason Njoku was a trade target was because of his expiring contract. After this season, the 29-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent. However, he hopes to find something to stay with the team.
He smiled when asked if extension talks had begun — “I can’t say that,” he told the reporter. Njoku commented on why he is so passionate about the franchise.
“Don’t you see this?” Njoku said showing off his custom jewelry. “It says [No.] 85 with the Nigerian flag, but so is the state of Ohio. You didn’t see that, did you? It’s nice, isn’t it?”
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of the NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Some players get frustrated when their team doesn’t win, and Njoku may be the player who has only played in three total playoff games in his nine seasons with Cleveland.
But when he didn’t get the call that he was traded on Tuesday, his only reaction was happiness.
“I’m so happy, man. I don’t know how else to say it — I’m so happy. I’m serious,” he said.
Through seven games this season, Njoku has caught 27 of his 41 targets for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He also has a promising counterpart at tight end in Harold Fannin Jr., who has caught 38 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025. (Peter Casey/Imagn Images)
Fannin’s emergence as a reliable pass catcher for the Browns’ offense only fueled the fire surrounding the Njoku rumors.
But the New Jersey native is staying and will at least finish the season with the Browns. From there, time will tell if both sides reach an agreement on an extension.
