@dutch-oven said:

Njoku IMO by the majority of Browns fans was considered a good but not great tight end.

Early on he had his drops issue, but over time he became one of our best weapons.  I wish we could keep him.

@ballpeen said:

Njoku was one of the most overrated players of the last 10 years.

Disagree.

Njoku IMO by the majority of Browns fans was considered a good but not great tight end. He became a solid blocker and a solid passing target, and would have put up even better numbers if he had consistent QB play throughout his time in Cleveland. Not sure how that makes him overrated. 

@dutch-oven said:

That’s the thing, he seems to think he could play and this was actually some weird punishment or something?

I had not seen that part.  Of course he could have felt he could play through it, and cle at that point of the season wanting going let's play our depth.  As well as likely wanting to protect themselves if there were any injury clauses in his contract which could guarantee his 2026 salary. 

In either case none of it impacted his FA stock.  His tape for the last two years will have more to day on his next contract that how hurt or not hurt he was the last few weeks of 2025.

@reality said:

His calf injury that he got around week 13, had him miss games, come back, then started bothering him so his snap count got reduced in games, then was put on IR before week 18?

That’s the thing, he seems to think he could play and this was actually some weird punishment or something?

@dutch-oven said:

The whole sitting him down for games during the season and pretty much lying about why they did it thing.

His calf injury that he got around week 13, had him miss games, come back, then started bothering him so his snap count got reduced in games, then was put on IR before week 18?

@reality said:

How did they do him dirty?

The whole sitting him down for games during the season and pretty much lying about why they did it thing.

@dutch-oven said:

The Browns did Teller dirty last season. He deserved better. 

How did they do him dirty?

@flugel said:

Good guess Nicks but no. 

Believe it or not, he was born and raised in Cedar Grove, NJ.  As a senior in high school there he was a great football player in the Fall; and National Champion in the High Jump in 2014.  

That's right.. I had forgotten that... Senior moments man.. LOL

@nickers said:

I could see Chief winding up in Miami... That is his home town I believe...

Good guess Nicks but no. 

Believe it or not, he was born and raised in Cedar Grove, NJ.  As a senior in high school there he was a great football player in the Fall; and National Champion in the High Jump in 2014.  

@bob806 said:

Sure, if it's tried several times in a game. 

I'm not an "Xs & Os" guy like you, but I really don't think it was ever tried once while he was here. 6'4" & 246 pounds vs a slot corner is a win at the LOS, even if a safety creeps up. 

 In early downs, with how widely used big nickel is (look at the new Superbowl champs) you're unlikely to draw a smaller corner.   Hell, even on negative downs.  That always presents a problem because TE are almost always vertical threats because of their size.    But the special one's have enough lateral juice to help keep defenders somewhat honest in overplaying route structure.   More important, those are the types you can build around a s primary target.  

 I love me some Chief, but he isn't Kelce, McBride, Kittle, Bowers or Loveland.  One of my favorite plays you could have used for David would be Hoss Z-Juke. You can also call it H-choice, if you like. 

 The downside - the Browns haven't had consistent QB play or play from an H/Z receiver good enough to allow them to execute these concepts at a high level.  More importantly one that fundamentally punishes a defense for certain tags being double teamed.  Not including the last few years of piss poor OL & running game.   No wide zone? No misdirection. No mid or vertical zone? No seams. 

 Most coaches are big believers in stressing vertical seams. But with the current league nature of cover 4, 6, 8 & cover 3 with weak or strong rotations- the idea is to cap routes top down and force offenses to be patient.   It's harder than ever to be a TE that functions primarily as a vertical threat.  

@calfoxwc said:

a FA from the ratbirds is talked about here - interesting.

https://atozsports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns-news/browns-free-agent-target-david-njoku-replacement-shedeur-sanders-todd-monken/

another possibility is 

TE Seydou Traore – Mississippi State, though he is more of a wr, who can play the slot and win a lot, late in the late rounds.

  I didn't care for Njoku, but he grew up a lot. I wish him well, unless he plays vs the Browns.

I could see Chief winding up in Miami... That is his home town I believe...

@bob806 said:

Sure, if it's tried several times in a game. 

I'm not an "Xs & Os" guy like you, but I really don't think it was ever tried once while he was here. 6'4" & 246 pounds vs a slot corner is a win at the LOS, even if a safety creeps up. 

a FA from the ratbirds is talked about here - interesting.

https://atozsports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns-news/browns-free-agent-target-david-njoku-replacement-shedeur-sanders-todd-monken/

another possibility is 

TE Seydou Traore – Mississippi State, though he is more of a wr, who can play the slot and win a lot, late in the late rounds.

  I didn't care for Njoku, but he grew up a lot. I wish him well, unless he plays vs the Browns.

@tiamat63 said:

With an incredibly limited route selection & prevalence of big nickel, you're overselling this alignment.  

See above.   

Sure, if it's tried several times in a game. 

I'm not an "Xs & Os" guy like you, but I really don't think it was ever tried once while he was here. 6'4" & 246 pounds vs a slot corner is a win at the LOS, even if a safety creeps up. 

@bob806 said:

He would have been basically uncoverable in the slot 

@bob806 said:

What CB would have stopped him cold? 

With an incredibly limited route selection & prevalence of big nickel, you're overselling this alignment.  

@bob806 said:

coaches can't seem to grasp this kind of stuff.

See above.   

@bob806 said:

Well that's one way to look at it. I do remember him trying to dive into the end zone after he caught a ball in Cincinnati at the 5?

He would have been basically uncoverable in the slot, but coaches can't seem to grasp this kind of stuff. What CB would have stopped him cold? 

The business side of football is tough. I wish him well.

He presented some matchup problems. 

He was and still is to some degree unstoppable split out at the goal line with a competent QB throwing him a jump ball.

@sdbacker80 said:

a great example in the community no doubt.  

Football wise early on…He couldn’t consistently catch the ball and was plagued by a low football IQ stupid penalties and doing the wrong thing. I don’t think adding a position would have made the light bulb go on any quicker.

if I recall correctly the light bulb came on the year before his rookie contract was up. 

Well that's one way to look at it. I do remember him trying to dive into the end zone after he caught a ball in Cincinnati at the 5?

He would have been basically uncoverable in the slot, but coaches can't seem to grasp this kind of stuff. What CB would have stopped him cold? 

The business side of football is tough. I wish him well.

@bob806 said:

I really think the Browns didn't use him right early on in his career. He had WR speed.

I've seen him at local high school football games. Normally a large group of young kids followed him around. He really embraced the community.

It will be a huge loss to see him go. 

a great example in the community no doubt.  

Football wise early on…He couldn’t consistently catch the ball and was plagued by a low football IQ stupid penalties and doing the wrong thing. I don’t think adding a position would have made the light bulb go on any quicker.

if I recall correctly the light bulb came on the year before his rookie contract was up.