What are three realistic expectations for a David Njoku trade?
A trade involving David Njoku will more than likely be a combination of the disgruntled Cleveland Browns tight end and a draft pick in order to get an impact player. A proposed deal hints at a possible second-round pick being needed to at least land a disgruntled star, on top of Njoku. Why? Well, Njoku hasn’t been very good. Be it his attitude issues, his inability to play consistently, or his flat out inability to get on the field for one reason or another.
He might become a Pro Bowler one day. He might also not get a second contract. Securing the fifth-year option on his deal isn’t a sign they have faith in him, just that they have a desire to keep control of his rights for as long as possible at an affordable enough price as possible. A trade was always coming for Njoku, it’s not just that we’re all being informed of it. So what can you get for the former, currently bust-looking, first-round pick from Miami (of Florida) University without a player or draft kicker added on?
A handshake and a bag of peanuts. Not even roasted. Shells still on and everything. Also that handshake? Totally against CDC guidelines at the moment, so you’re just getting a bag of peanuts. Which is still more than he’s given the Cleveland Browns, mind you.
Jokes aside, on his own, you’re not recouping value but you might be able to fill a hole or two on the team.
A Fringe Starter
For a point of comparison, a player like Sione Takitaki or B.J. Goodson would be the type of player I’m referring to at this juncture. Just someone else’s version of those players. Guys who are good enough to get looks but may not be good enough to get a starting spot. It’s not like the Browns don’t have holes to fill. The Browns intend on running heavy sets on the defense of three safeties or three linebackers. Not at the same time, obviously.
Good news, bad news situation here; the Browns really need a third starting linebacker and arguably a third starting safety unless free agent Karl Joseph can actually earn a starting job. Let alone make the team. At linebacker, the only near-lock the team has is Mack Wilson. Goodson and Takitaki are the next two names to possibly get a start at the position but LSU rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips could also be in the mix as well.
A player like that is going to be the peak value alone for Njoku. He’s not proven to be worth more than that and while yes, has an extra year on his deal to attract teams, what’s that an extra year of? Consistent play? Inconsistent catching? Primadonna behavior? Njoku isn’t exactly known to be Tony Gonzales over here. Not in the context of his play or his team-first philosophy.
Any expectations of landing a current Pro Bowler need to go if you’re just willing to trade Njoku. Sure, there’s a mathematical chance the Jaguars, Giants, or whoever throws a 28-year-old, top of his game player at the Browns but that’s unlikely. It’s happened before, it could happen again. It’s just not very likely.
Mid-Late Round Draft Pick
David Njoku cost the Cleveland Browns a first-round draft pick to take him. Exit this article now if you actually think you can get anything close to that in a trade for him. Njoku has been hurt, a headache, and a malcontent in the locker room (hence the benching last year), and you expect a team to take a flyer on the guy with over three years of experience already?
Teams risk first-round picks on guys not because of the hype or production in college, but because of the intangibles they know and don’t know about. It’s like being on a game show and knowing you can get a washing machine or a juicer, but opting to go with Door No. 3 instead. You don’t know what you’re getting you just have hope that what’s behind that door is better than the free agents available and talent already on the roster.
That’s why teams use a first-round pick on talent. They don’t know, they hope.
Except, in this case, teams do know. They’ve seen Njoku fail to impress. The whole “it takes tight ends longer…” excuse is just that; an excuse. George Kittle was taken in the same draft as Njoku. He was just taken in the fifth-round. All he’s done is break 500 yards every season he’s been in the NFL, top 1,000 yards twice, and score 12 touchdowns. Kittle nearly doubles Njoku’s career tallies in yards and catches.
If Njoku was a fifth-round pick, then fair play. Njoku would have had a great career by that metric. Njoku was not a fifth-round pick. He was a first-round pick and has never lived up to that expectation. The best you could hope for in a Njoku specific trade is a fifth-round pick.
If you’re lucky.
Disgruntled or Oft-Injured Proven Starter
You might, might get a proven starter. With a catch or two. He’ll probably be a 10-year starter. So he’ll have experience. Yet he’ll have also had 10 years’ worth of injuries and issues to him as well. You’ll probably get someone who was great but no longer is, but might still be good enough to push whoever the Browns have at that position.
Maybe they’re still good, but have a huge contract, but no longer good enough to warrant that contract. Maybe they’ll be someone who can change the tide of the game, as long as they’re healthy and on the field to do so. The player will be someone, like Njoku, who’s a risk for the Browns to take on. It might just be a risk worth having.
Also, they probably have some issues with authority and have become a public issue to deal with. After all, why else would he be available?
I know some people would have gone to the “Oh, you mean someone like J.J. Watt!?” idea. No, not like Watt. Watt is still a top ten defensive player when he’s healthy and he’s by far from a malcontent. We’re more talking about an Antonio Brown situation. A player who has/had the skill but is such a wreck either physically or emotionally that bringing them on could be a huge problem.
Right now there aren’t many that one can put a pulse on, besides maybe Njoku himself. Most guys who would fall under that banner were cut or traded already but there’s always a new name that’s about to boil over. Usually, look at whoever Jacksonville has on their roster for a good sign. Maybe the Bengals A.J. Green gets fed up and demands a trade publically.