TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during pregame before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Bears can upgrade their tight end position with a trade for David Njoku.
The Bears tried to solve their tight end issues through free agency and the NFL Draft, as they added veteran Jimmy Graham, formerly of the rival Green Bay Packers and Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet with their first pick. Those moves ought to make for some improvement, but it’s not enough. If Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace want to survive the next year and offseason in the Windy City, they’ll trade for Browns tight end and former first-rounder David Njoku.
When healthy, Njoku is one of the more talented young tight ends in football. He’s still just 23-years-old and feels overshadowed in Cleveland.
Should the Bears trade for David Njoku?
Reports out of Cleveland suggest they’re trying to convince Njoku to stay, but that’ll be a tough case, as the Browns signed Austin Hooper and drafted Harrison Bryant this offseason. Njoku’s targets are bound to go down even if Baker Mayfield ascends to Pro Bowl status in 2020. He’s far too talented to waste away on a middling AFC North squad.
In Chicago, Njoku would be relied upon as arguably the No. 1 receiving threat after wide receiver Allen Robinson and allow for Kmet to adjust to the pace of the NFL as a rookie.
Whether the Bears go with Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles next season is irrelevant if they don’t provide their signal-caller with appropriate targets. An ancient Graham isn’t enough.
To make such a trade, Chicago would have to part ways with a mid-round pick. Njoku is under contract until 2022, which benefits the Browns in negotiations. Still, he’s coming off an injury-plagued season in which he only caught five passes. If Cleveland were truly happy with their situation at tight end, they wouldn’t have brought in reinforcements. Such a trade screams a third-round pick in return and even that’s being generous.
It’s a price Chicago ought to be willing to pay.