BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 17: Tight end David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Cowboys are one of a handful of teams that have already expressed interest in David Njoku. Adding the dynamic tight end would make their offense scary.
David Njoku doesn’t want to play for the Cleveland Browns any longer, but there’s no guarantee the team will give in to his trade demands. If they do, look for the Dallas Cowboys to be one of a handful of NFL teams that make an offer for the talented tight end.
Any deal bringing Njoku to Dallas will almost certainly require Browns to lower their current trade demands. Reports from Cleveland believe the team wants to receive a first-round pick in any deal for the fifth-year pro. In theory, that would allow the franchise to receive equal value for their former 29th overall pick.
The Cowboys aren’t going to give up that type of draft capital for a tight end who isn’t already an established superstar. If, however, the asking price slips down to a third- or fourth-round selection, it will be easy for Jerry Jones and his front office to convince themselves that moving for Njoku makes a lot of sense.
Tight end is absolutely the team’s weakest skill position on offense. Blake Jarwin is the projected starter after the offseason departure of Jason Witten, but he only managed 31 catches for 365 yards a season ago. He is a quality in-line blocker, but he doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of opposing defensive backs.
Adding Njoku to a receiving corps that already features Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Jerry Jeudy at wide receiver would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. It would be virtually impossible for any secondary to double-cover Njoku on a regular basis. The presence of Ezekiel Elliott as a receiving threat out of the backfield would make doing so a very poor tactical choice.
The only hesitation the Cowboys should have about adding Njoku is that he won’t do anything to solve their issues on the defensive side of the ball. The team still looks to be short on edge rushers, and the departure of Byron Jones is a blow to their talent in the secondary.
That might require the Cowboys to outscore opponents in 2020. They already have the talent to light up the scoreboard on a regular basis, but adding Njoku to the mix might give them a chance to form the NFL’s top offense. It might be a gamble worth taking for the Cowboys.