Cleveland Browns: David Njoku trade to Colts must happen

A trade of David Njoku by the Cleveland Browns to Indianapolis Colts makes too much sense.

As far as trade destinations go for Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, the Indianapolis Colts make the most sense.

Indy’s been decimated by injuries at the position, and Njoku would immediately be an upgrade at the position.

The Twittersphere has been trying to ship Njoku for former Buckeye Malik Hooker, which makes sense on its face. The Browns need a safety. The Colts need a tight end. Both have seen their stars dim with their current organizations. Simply easy, right?

It’s true that the Colts did decline Hooker’s fifth-year option, but Indy’s pretty thin at safety behind Hooker, which would indicate they’re going to to move forward with the former first-round pick in 2020.

Meanwhile, adding Njoku by no means guarantees durability. Pick a random practice leading up to Week 1, and it would not be shocking to see Njoku nursing another injury.

The Browns, at least publicly, had no interest in trading Njoku, when he requested a trade earlier this year. It’s assumed Njoku saw himself as the third man on the depth chart following the free-agent signing of Austin Hooper, in addition to the drafting of Harrison Bryant in the fourth round.

If that’s how his mind was working, he was correct. Hooper’s looked like the real deal in camp, while Bryant was just named Training Camp’s most outstanding rookie.

With that said, Stefanski loves running schemes heavy on tight ends, and it’s been said a third tight end may see the field more with him than another coach.

Scoring Hooker would be a dream scenario, but that’s because I think the bar is so low on Njoku that he could only fetch a late-round pick.

In the end, don’t count on Hooker being traded here, because while the Browns need him, the Colts still need him, as well.