Cleveland Browns could sign solid insurance option if David Njoku is traded

The Cleveland Browns have an insurance option if they trade David Njoku.

It has been quiet on the David Njoku front for the Cleveland Browns, despite the 24-year-old tight end and his agent Drew Rosenhaus requesting a trade at the beginning of July. After losing the starting job tight end job to Austin Hooper, the trade request was not a surprise.

However, with the Browns adopting Kevin Stefanski’s system, which relies on using 12 personnel, Cleveland will need a solid No. 2 tight end next to Hooper. Because of the need for two tight ends, it is not surprising the Browns are not going to trade Njoku for nothing. They have repaeated time and again this offseason they have plans for Njoku.

Even though the Browns do not want to trade Njoku, if they receive an offer they cannot refuse, it will be hard for the organization to not move on from Njoku. If they do make a trade, Cleveland will need a replacement to be the No. 2 tight end.

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Behind Njoku on the tight end depth chart, the Browns have Pharaoh Brown, Stephen Carlson, and Harrison Bryant. With how often Stefanski deploys two tight ends, the Browns do not have a solid, proven No. 2 tight end to take over if Njoku is traded. That is where an insurance option like Jeff Heuerman comes into play.

The Broncos released Heuerman on Friday as a cap casualty, saving $3.875 million with the move. After the selection of Noah Fant in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Broncos were best suited to cut Heuerman instead of paying him the remainder of his two-year, $8 million contract he signed in March 2019.

Heuerman never lived up to being a third-round pick for the Broncos, but he has still proven to be a solid player in Denver. Although he did not standout in any one aspect of being an NFL tight end, he has proven to be effective in the passing game as a receiver, but also as a blocker in the run game.

In his career, Heuerman has caught 63 passes for 678 yards and five touchdowns in 51 games, in which 29 games he started. He has battled injuries over his career, missing at least two games in each of the past four seasons.

Although he has not posted any numbers that would make a person say “wow,” he has shown to be a reliable blocker and has flashed as a receiver. He may not be as the most talented receiver, but he can make the plays when he needs to.

As the No. 2 tight end, the Browns do not need a pure receiver. Instead, it would be beneficial to have a tight end who can play more of a balanced role. Hooper was signed because of his receiving prowess, so having a balanced tight end like Heuerman could be the perfect complement to Hooper in Stefanski’s offense.

It seems unlikely the Browns will trade Njoku unless a starting tight end around the league suffers an injury during training camp. It will not be surprising if Heuerman catches on quickly after his release. However, if the Browns do trade Njoku and Heuerman is still available, the former Bronco could be the perfect insurance option for the Browns.