Cleveland Browns sign star Tight End David Njoku to 4 - Year Deal
Introduction
On Friday, May 27th, 2022 the Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms on a new 4 - year contract with their star veteran tight end, David Njoku. This new deal is worth up to approximately $56.75 million which includes $28 million in total guaranteed money according to Njoku’s agent.
David’s agent, Malki Kawa, confirmed the deal via social media, while Njoku thanked the Cleveland Browns organization through a post on Instagram. The Cleveland Browns placed the franchise tag on Njoku earlier this offseason which usually indicates that the NFL organization is not ready to make a long - term commitment to that play during the NFL offseason.
Njoku had up until July 15th, 2022 to agree to the terms of a long - term contract, but it did not take nearly that long for Njoku and the Cleveland Browns to work out a longer - term agreement. Had they not reached a deal, Njoku would've played the 2022 - 2023 NFL season under the franchise tender, which is reportedly worth around $10.931 million.
Contract Details
David’s new 4 - year $54,750,000.00 contract with the Cleveland Browns includes a signing bonus of $11,465,000.00, an average base salary of $13,687,500.00, $17,000,000.00 guaranteed at signing, and $28,000,000.00 in total guaranteed money. Njoku will now become an unrestricted free agent once again in 2026 unless the Cleveland Browns decide to cut David prior to this current contract expiring.
Contract Incentives & Notes
- $17 million guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2022 salary + 2023 salary)
- 2023 Option Bonus: $8 million (fully guarantees the 3rd - league day of 2023, injury guaranteed at signing)
- $3 million of 2024 salary (fully guarantees the 3rd - league day of 2023, injury guaranteed at signing)
- 2024 Per Game Active Bonus: $88,235.00 ($1.5 million)
- 2025 Per Game Active Bonus: $58,823.00 ($1 million)
- All Pro Selection: $250,000.00
- + Playoff Berth: $500,000.00
- 2026 - 2027 years automatically void ($5.493 million dead cap space)
The NFL Career of David Njoku
The now 25 - year - old, Njoku, had recorded 148 - receptions throughout his previous 5 - seasons with the Cleveland Browns, including 36 - catches totaling 475 - yards and 4 - touchdowns during the last 2021 - 2022 NFL season. His new contract with the Cleveland Browns will place him among the league's top - 5 highest - paid tight ends.
David’s greatest season came over the course of the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, Baker Mayfield's, rookie season back in 2018 - 2019, when Njoku pulled in a career - high 56 - catches which was good for 639 - total yards. After being one of Mayfield’s main targets, Njoku compiled 88 - targets times during the 2018 - 2019 NFL season, David's targets have gradually gone down over the past 3 - NFL seasons.
The Cleveland Browns are currently banking on the fact that Njoku will continue to thrive as he hits his NFL prime moving forward especially with the Cleveland Browns’ new quarterback in Deshaun Watson.
The Cleveland Browns are now the only NFL franchise that has a quarterback (Deshaun Watson), running back (Nick Chubb), wide receiver (Amari Cooper), and tight end (David Njoku) that all rank in the top seven at their position in guaranteed money.
The Cleveland Browns are Making Guarantees on Paper
The Cleveland Browns are the only NFL franchise that have a quarterback, a running back, a wide receiver, and a tight end that all rank in the top - 7 at their respective positions in guaranteed money.
| Player | GTD. $ | RANK / POS |
|---|---|---|
| Deshaun Watson | $230 M | 1st / QB |
| Nick Chubb | $20 M | 7th / RB |
| Amari Cooper | $60 M | 6th / WR |
| David Njoku | $28 M | 6th / TE |
Great 2021 - 2022 NFL Season for David Njoku
David set career - highs during the previous 2021 - 2022 NFL season including: yards per target (YPT) as well as yards after catch per reception (YACPR), as he displayed the physical skills that made him the overall 29th selection during the 2017 NFL Draft.
Njoku ranked 4th in the National Football League amongst all NFL tight ends in yards per target with 9.0 - yards, and David was tied for 1st in yards after the catch per target with 6.7 - yards among all NFL tight ends last season. Hopefully Njoku turns out to be a safe signing for the Cleveland Browns as they still hope and pray to see a Super Bowl sometime in the near future.
Sources:
“Cleveland Browns reach 4 - year, $56.75M deal with TE David Njoku, agent says”, Jake Trotter, espn.com, May 27, 2022.
“David Njoku”, pro-football-reference.com, June 1, 2022.
“David Njoku”, spotrac.com, June 1, 2022.
