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5 role players Cleveland Browns should consider extending

By Sam Penix

Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82) celebrates after the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and secured a playoff berth at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82) celebrates after the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and secured a playoff berth at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 25, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) makes a diving catch in the end zone against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

1. TE David Njoku

The 2020 offseason wasn’t great for David Njoku’s outlook. Coming off a five-catch campaign, Njoku had much to prove. The front office clearly didn’t view the tight end position as a strength, first making Austin Hooper the highest-paid TE in history, and then selecting Harrison Bryant in the fourth round.

Njoku requested a trade, but was denied. He kept his head up, however, and was Cleveland’s best all-around tight end for the duration of the 2021 season. He was the only one of the group who provided any explosion or YAC ability, and improved significantly as a blocker, a weakness over his first three years.

Njoku is not the high-priced starter, nor the relatively high draft pick of this regime, but he is by far the most talented and was the most effective last year. He deserves a much larger role in 2021, and since he’ll be playing on his fifth-year option, it seems like he’ll get that. The production will need to improve if he hopes to cash in next offseason, but if he can keep up most of his efficiency from 2020, he’ll get it.

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Njoku is one of the keys to unlocking the full potential of this Cleveland offense. The raw numbers may not show it, but last season was a massive step forward for him. There’s no reason to think he can’t continue that improvement and become one of the league’s better TEs. This scheme needs a player like him, and extending him just before he breaks out would be a shrewd move.

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