Once upon a time NFL mock drafters, and a number of fans, thought tight end David Njoku would be a perfect fit for the New York Giants.
Njoku was one of the players most often mocked to the Giants before the 2017 NFL Draft. Big Blue View’s Chris Pflum thought he was a fit for New York. Draft analyst Mike Mayock thought Njoku was one of the two best tight ends in the draft class .
Even Njoku, a Cedar Grove, N.J. native, was thinking about playing for his home town team.
“It feels like yesterday that
I was a little kid and I was the biggest fan watching them on TV, hoping one day I would go to a game, and now I’m here and could possibly be on that team next season. It’s a great blessing,” Njoku said. “To go home? That would mean a lot. I mean, anywhere I go honestly is a blessing, but being raised in Jersey and watching the Giants and the Jets and having them both as my top two favorite teams when I was younger, it would be awesome.”
The Giants did select a tight end with the 23rd pick in the draft that year, but they chose Evan Engram. The Browns took Njoku 29th.
Njoku took to social media on Monday to announce that his nine-year run with the Cleveland Browns was over, and that he would he head to free agency.
Now heading into his age 30 season, Njoku has had a productive career in Cleveland. He has 384 receptions, an average of 43 per season, for 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has averaged 10.6 yards per reception, and was a Pro Bowler in 2023 when he had a career-high 81 receptions.
Njoku missed six games in 2024 with knee and ankle injuries, and five more games in 2025 with a knee issue.
With Daniel Bellinger and Chris Manhertz slated to be free agents, the Giants’ could be headed for somewhat of a makeover at tight end.
Is it time for the Giants to bring him home?
