If the Cleveland Browns have a desire to trade David Njoku, why not swing big?
The long-awaited rumor has finally been confirmed, David Njoku wanted out of Cleveland a long time ago. Now that the Cleveland Browns have been publically notified that Njoku wants out, the team only has so much leverage in any deal for the former first-round pick. So what are the Cleveland Browns to do? Will they just trade him away for a 4th-round pick ala Duke Johnson? Will they go into training camp with him on the roster and risk whatever value he has by having him practice? Will they bottle him up in a trade deal and send him off for a major player in return?
Well, let’s hope the third option is the pick.
Njoku on his own can’t fetch a big get for the Browns. Everyone is aware of this. Whether you think he can be a star for the team or not, everyone knows his value is at an all-time low, and can easily get worse. So trading him now before his value takes an even bigger hit, or the Browns lose more negotiation power makes sense. Will the team be able to generate enough buzz in a trade package to get one of the three names on this list? It’s unknown.
Every name on this list has a few things in common, they’re all on losing teams and they’re all on expiring deals. All three will be unrestricted free agents after the 2020-2021 season and will be able to sign with anyone they want. So there’s already an incentive for these teams to flip them because there is no guarantee they’ll want to stick around.
So here are the three names the Browns should shoot to the moon to try and land in a Njoku trade.
OG Brandon Scherff – Washington Redkins
The Browns are not set at right guard, not really. Wyatt Teller was not a great looking option last year and he was a late addition to the team who replaced the incumbent starter. The team didn’t make any real moves to improve the guard spot in the offseason through either the draft or free agency. The only move they made to help the interior offensive line was drafting Nick Harris of Washington, at best a developmental project for the team.
The team still needs to make a move to help the inside line but admittedly they still need to watch their cap space. The Redskins prove to be a team that is poised to be able to help with some of the issues the Browns are facing. Brandon Scherff is a three-time Pro Bowl guard for the ‘Skins. He’s one of the better all-around blockers but does carry a one-year salary of $15 million. Yet, he’ll be 29 and has two years of injuries against him, meaning not only could he be re-signed at a discount but he could probably be had without destroying the team’s draft capital for next season.
A third-round draft pick and Njoku might be enough to get them to move on from Scherff. While it may seem oxymoronic to trade a lineman for a tight end when you’re developing a young prospect at quarterback, as Washington is, keep in mind how poorly ran this organization is. Njoku could give Washington’s Dwayne Haskins a legitimate second option to throw to after Terry McLaurin. The trade works in theory.
Trade Package: TE Njoku and a 4th and 6th draft pick
DE Yannick Ngakoue – Jacksonville Jaguars
Already pitched by another writer, the idea of trading for Yannick Ngakoue is not a bad one. He’s young, 24-years-old, and could probably be had at a discount trade rate since he wants out of Jacksonville. Swapping two players for each other who both want trades would be rather ironic. The Jaguars don’t have any tight ends on their roster that could make an impact, either. Making his a solid destination.
Their returning top producer at the position last year was James O’Shaughnessy, and the team didn’t make any big moves in the draft to shore up the position, drafting Tyler Davis in the sixth-round. They did bring in perennial backup Tyler Eifert from the Cinncinati Bengals but at 30-years-old, he’s not going to be the guy who can give Gardner Minshew any real threat downfield. While Njoku isn’t very physical, he’s an athletic marvel and maybe as the primary target can actually put up some good numbers.
For the Browns, Ngakoue will be able to fill in at the left defensive end spot and really do some damage opposite Myles Garrett. He’d need to agree to a sign and trade for the deal to be really worth it, even if it’s only a one or two-year extension. If the Browns can put together some real progress and start winning games, an extra year or two maybe it all it’d take to get Ngakoue to commit to the club.
Trade Package: TE David Njoku and a 3rd-round draft pick.
DE Joey Bosa – Los Angeles Chargers
This is the dream trade. It may not seem like much of a realistic idea at first but it makes sense. Firstly, don’t ever assume that a team isn’t willing to ship someone or that someone is automatically happy someplace just because you haven’t heard any alternative to the contrary. Joey Bosa may no longer be a fit on the Los Angeles Chargers. Why? Because the team may no longer be a competitor to challenge for the SuperBowl without iconic quarterback Phillip Rivers on the team.
Bosa is entering the last year of his deal before he hits the free-agent market and the team still isn’t talking about new deal. Entirely possible the team slaps the Franchise Tag on him but that only usually serves to anger players, forcing them to publically demand a trade. So you don’t want that. There’s also no real talk on Bosa signing an extension since the team picked up his fifth-year option.
So Bosa is heading into his last year with the team, made worse, the team is not going to be a contender anymore. Their defense is aging out, with fellow star Melvin Ingram turning 31-years-old, who’s also in the last year of his contract with the club. Their other best was linebacker, Thomas Davis, who’s 37. He’s since been shipped off to Washington.
The team also moved on from star running back Melvin Gordon, and are putting Tyrod Taylor into the starting quarterback role of the team. Essentially making Keenan Allen and Mike Williams useless next to Taylor. Taylor is not a big-time passer, barely cracking 3,000 yards in two of three seasons as a starter in Buffalo.
All eyes are on rookie Justin Herbert with the hope that he can succeed in the system that head coach Anthony Lynn set up. Lynn’s a great coach but he’s got his work cut out for him. If Lynn wants to get the most out of Herbert right away, the team may want to think about blowing up their team a bit. Move Ingram and Bosa, work more two-tight end sets, and go get Njoku to try and be, comparatively, a healthier TE option for Herbert to use as a safety blanket. Hunter Henry is back on the team but he’s too injury-prone to be reliable.
It might cost more, but Bosa’s young enough and talented enough to make the price worth it. If he agrees to a new deal before he gets shipped, that is.
Trade Package: TE David Njoku, 1st-round, and 4th-round draft pick.