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The Cleveland Browns may be one of the worst teams in the NFL midseason, but one veteran didn’t want to see himself pushed out before the league’s trade deadline on Tuesday.
Tight end David Njoku has spent his entire career in Cleveland since being selected 29th overall in the 2017 draft. 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 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/Image Images)
“Of course, 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 speak louder.
“Jesus Christ, no,” he responded after a reporter asked him if he would ever leave.
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The reason Njoku was a trade target was because his contract was expiring. After this season, the 29-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent. However, he hopes to work something out to stay on the team.
He smiled when asked if extension talks had begun: “I can’t say,” he told the reporter. Njoku discussed why he is so passionate about the franchise.
“Don’t you see this here?” Njoku said while showing off her personalized jewelry. “Says [No.] 85 with the Nigerian flag, but it is also the state of Ohio. You didn’t see that, huh? It’s nice, isn’t it?”
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during 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 could be that player, as he only played in three total playoff games in his nine seasons with Cleveland.
But when he didn’t get the call that he had been 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 mean it,” he said.
Through seven games this season, Njoku has made 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 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 September 14, 2025. (Peter Casey/Image Images)
Fannin’s emergence as a reliable receiver for the Browns offense only fueled the fire surrounding the Njoku rumors.
But the New Jersey native remains and will at least finish the season with the Browns. From there, time will tell if both sides come to an agreement on an extension.
