Create an inventory of Cleveland Browns offensive weapons.
How far down this record does David Njoku land?
It (probably) belongs Baker, Odell, Jarvis, Chubb, Kareem Hunt if not suspended, then Njoku.
The dynamic tight end landing well down the list underscores the Browns’ dynamic turnaround from previous seasons, in which deficiencies on that side of the ball have been deep.
Heading into his third year, the former first-round pick could be in for a leap, becoming one of the top tight ends in the NFL.
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While working out with Baker Mayfield along with other teammates in Los Angeles, Njoku stopped by the Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday and was asked about his goals for the 2019 season.
“Honestly speaking, I don’t really put numbers in my goals,” Njoku informed Eisen. “I just feel as if I gave everything that I could into the match, only worked my hardest, I feel as I’ll feel accomplished.”
. . .Wait for this…
“With that said, I want 20 touchdowns this year,” Njoku added laughing before heading back into his canned answers. “I only feel, for me, only knowing that I gave I obtained will make me feel accomplished.”
Sure, Njoku was mostly joking about 20 touchdowns — although we should never chastise a professional athlete to setting the bar high. Only two players in NFL history have attained the 20-TD catch pub: Jerry Rice (22) in 1987, and Randy Moss (23) in 2007. Rob Gronkowski’s 17 TDs in 2011 would be the most ever for a tight end. Last year, Antonio Brown led the Total NFL with 15 TDs and Eric Ebron led TEs.
Is beside the point. The wider notion the numerical utterance conjures is a discussion about if the tight end is possibly primed for a big season.
Still only 22 years old, Njoku possesses the ideal combination of size in 6-foot-4, 246 pounds, and athleticism to be a dominant tight wind force, if he could become constant in all facets. Last year he showed flashes of being a possible difference-making goal for Mayfield, who can take advantage of mismatches within the middle, flying past linebackers and bullying safeties. His 639 yards and four TDs on 56 receptions demonstrated promise, but the ceiling could be much greater.
Improved route-running from Year 1 to Year two was clear on Njoku’s movie, and while he wasn’t the ideal blocker for his place, he got markedly better. Taking those strides will determine just how high Njoku’s leap can be.
The gift is there for Njoku. One big question is if there’ll be enough pigskin to go around. Together with Mayfield needing to feed Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, maintain the RBs happy, etc.. Njoku’s numbers might be suppressed more than if he had been playing in a crime devoid of these abilities.
The TE himself noted how stacked the offense is heading right into 2019.
“We have Odell, Jarvis, (Antonio) Callaway, (Rashard)’Hollywood’ Higgins, me, Kareem Hunt, Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson, Baker Mayfield. That is just the crime,” Njoku said. “The shield is completely piled too.”
Maybe overly piled for Njoku to generate near 20 TDs, but in Cleveland that’s a good thing.
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