David Njoku: Untapped Potential
The year is 2019 and the Cleveland Browns of all teams have enough talent on both sides of the ball to not only compete for the playoffs, but also the Super Bowl. That’s something most people haven’t uttered since 1994, or perhaps 2008 when the team came off a 10-6 season the year before.
Thanks to an actual quarterback (Baker Mayfield), the Browns have once again been taken seriously by the general public, which is really something I want to get used to. But Mayfield isn’t alone, with an impressive cast of skill players including Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, Rishard Higgins, Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson (maybe), and David Njoku.
David Njoku, a first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, happens to be one of the offense’s more enticing players. Njoku doesn’t even turn 23 until July, so he has plenty of young years left in the NFL at this rate.
In 2018 Njoku caught 56 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns. He finished eighth in FantasyData’s fantasy point metrics among all tight ends with 87.9 points, doing this in spite of playing half of the season in an offense with no defined plan thanks to the power struggle clash between Hue Jackson and Todd Haley.
The arrival of Beckham, as well as a loaded group of skill players, has turned fantasy players away from drafting Njoku until the late rounds, but rest assured this has nothing to do with his talent. As a matter of fact, Njoku is one of the league’s most talented receiving tight ends (we know his blocking ability sucks in comparison), and there is something useful in drafting him for those needing a tight end.
Even in a loaded offense, Njoku can still rack up numbers thanks to his presence in the red zone. All four of his touchdowns were caught in the red zone, and the potential of a coaching staff featuring Freddie Kitchens and Todd Monken can only get better from this point (knock on wood).
What really makes Njoku’s red zone potential appealing is how much of a physical freak he is. He’s schemed as a wideout on this play, and Mayfield tosses the fade pass in his direction. The pass is a little underthrown, so Njoku has to make the adjustment in order to haul this pass in, which he does.
Njoku’s long arms, frame, and vertical helped him dominate his tape with the Miami Hurricanes in college. He’s able to make the contested catch thanks to some outstanding concentration for the touchdown.
Njoku’s chemistry with Baker Mayfield can still be there in the midst of a sea of hungry pass catchers, and it was certainly there last season. Njoku can stretch the field vertically despite not being the fastest receiving tight end in the game.
Njoku’s ball skills are extremely impressive, and I think they’re more impressive than the likes of Evan Engram, O.J. Howard and even George Kittle! Both of these catches are spectacular, more so than you’d think.
In the first clip, Mayfield throws a little late to Njoku, and this pass could very easily be knocked out and fall to the ground for an incompletion, but Njoku’s strong hands secure it as he’s gone for the races, running out the clock and allowing the Browns to kneel down for a victory.
In the second clip, this pass is thrown behind Njoku when it should be more out in front. Njoku’s hands quickly snatch and secure this pass, even with a defender desperately trying to rip the ball out of his hands. He has his share of drops, but Njoku’s toughness and ball security at the catch point, especially on adjustments, is precisely why the Browns drafted him in the first place. He’s been spectacular at the catch point, giving his quarterback more margin for error (though I wouldn’t prefer that).
Njoku’s ability to box out defenders vertically makes him an even more enticing dynasty option. This is not an easy catch to make on a jump ball, but the ability to box out and go up and get the ball makes this a sensational catch.
To conclude, David Njoku is a great receiving tight end. He runs good routes, works well in the red zone, and has the physical ability to showcase great ball skills, box out ability, and vertical leaping. The best part is he turns 23 in July, so you should expect plenty of good years with Njoku.
I do understand the concerns of his production with the depth of Cleveland’s receiving corps, but when you combine his athletic ability with his potential in the red zone, drafting Njoku in the later rounds would be perfectly fine.
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