Cleveland Browns: How will the tight ends be used?
By Randy Gurzi
David Njoku
One of three first round picks last season, David Njoku came to the Browns after a solid career with the Miami Hurricanes. He’s got amazing athleticism for the position and is like having an extre wide out on the field.
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As a rookie, Njoku was really good. He had 32 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns. That may not seem like a ton at first, but according to George Stockburger of NFL Mocks, those numbers put the young man in some elite company.
"“Drafted at just 20 years old, Njoku became just the fifth tight end to record 30 receptions, 300 yards at age 21 season: Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten, Aaron Hernandez, and Njoku. Three of those players are Canton-bound at some point in their life.” — Stockburger, NFL Mocks"
Heading into his second season, Njoku could very well see his star rise even higher. He’s incredibly athletic, has strong hands and now has a quarterback in Tyrod Taylor who has a history of relying on the tight end in the passing game.
Where Njoku can really make the most strides though is as a blocker. This is something he struggled with as a rookie, but with proper coaching and some hard work he can improve. He doesn’t have to be great, just good enough that he’s no liability.