David Njoku made it abundantly clear at the end of 2021 that he wanted his NFL future to stay in Cleveland.
The five-year tight end veteran and 2017 first-round pick was approaching the end of his rookie contract, and after five seasons in Cleveland — the last two of which featured playoff hunts — he didn't want to go anywhere else.
"I love it here," he said in January. "I love it here to the core. I honestly want to be here for the rest of my career … It's our dream to bring a championship here in Cleveland."
The Browns are now giving Njoku a chance to do that.
He signed a contract extension Wednesday that will keep him in Cleveland through 2025. The 25-year-old has already spent half of a decade with the Browns and will now get to spend at least the next four years with them as he enters the prime of his career.
"We are pleased to secure David Njoku's presence in Cleveland with this extension," Browns VP of Football Ops and GM Andrew Berry said. "David's multi-faceted skill set in both the run and pass game is a key component of our offensive system. His ability to generate explosive plays with his athleticism, speed and run-after-catch ability along with his productivity as a blocker on the line of scrimmage is a difficult combination to find in a single player. We've seen David grow throughout his time here and are excited to see his best football over the next several seasons."
The tight end signed a contract extension Wednesday that will keep him in Cleveland through 2025. The 25-year-old has already spent half of a decade with the Browns and will now get to spend at least the next four years with them as he enters the prime of his career.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado on December 15, 2018.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on November 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 41-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado on December 15, 2018.
Tight end David Njoku (85) after a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on January 9, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 21-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice on November 17, 2021.
Tight end David Njoku (85) after a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on January 9, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 21-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on January 9, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 21-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers on October 10, 2021 at SoFi Stadium. The Browns lost 42-47.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns on December 20, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14-16.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) and Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on November 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 41-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on October 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 17-14.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns game on October 8, 2017 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14–17
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns on December 20, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football on November 28, 2021 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 10-16.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the eighth day of training camp on August 6, 2021.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on October 31, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 10-15.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers on October 10, 2021 at SoFi Stadium. The Browns lost 42-47.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings on October 3, 2021 at US Bank Stadium. The Browns won 14-7.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings on October 3, 2021 at US Bank Stadium. The Browns won 14-7.
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants on December 20, 2020 on Sunday Night Football at MetLife Stadium. The Browns won 20-6.
2021 Cleveland Browns Media Day
Browns players, members of the Browns Women's Organization and Vitamix representatives joined the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to package meals for local shelters on November 26, 2019
Tight end David Njoku (85) before a NFL Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 14, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 47-42.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on September 13, 2020 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 6–38.
Players visited the UH Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital on October 29, 2019 for a Halloween at the Hospital event.
2020 Media Day
As part of Browns Give Back's commitment to education, the Cleveland Browns Foundation and Maple Heights School District celebrated the recent launch of the Get 2 School, Stay in the Game! Network during a visit to Barack Obama Elementary School. While at the school, Browns players recognized select students to congratulate them for showing exemplary or significantly improved attendance, as well as met with a group of students who could benefit from better attendance to help motivate them to get to school.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the sixth day of training camp on July 31, 2019.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 24, 2019 in the preseason at Raymond James Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 17, 2017 at M&T Bank Stadium.Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 17, 2017 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns game on October 8, 2017 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14–17
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on 11/4/18
Yes, the Browns do believe Njoku can become an even better player and substantially build upon his 148 career receptions for 1,754 yards and 15 touchdowns since the Browns drafted him with the 29th overall pick in 2017. He had his best season since 2018 last year with 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns, matching his career high from 2017 and 2018.
Now, he's locked in as the Browns' top tight end and could be in for his best year yet with three-time Pro Bowl QB Deshaun Watson under center for the Browns. Watson, who will be in Cleveland through 2026, has a 67.8 completion percentage and is the most accurate passer in NFL history with a minimum 1,500 pass attempts, and it's a safe bet Njoku will be the recipient of a large chunk of the targets Watson is set to throw in a Browns uniform.
The best part for Njoku, though, is he'll have the chance to finish building what he started with the Browns.
Njoku, DE Myles Garrett, OG Joel Bitonio and LS Charley Hughlett are the longest-tenured players with the Browns and only players left from Cleveland's winless season in 2017. Frustrations, letdowns and adversity have been a part of Njoku's growth in the league, but the last two years — where the Browns have collected their most wins in a two-year stretch since 1988-89 — have given him and other Browns players a breath of fresh air.
It's also made them realize how special Cleveland is when the Browns are winning football games. Njoku saw it happen in 2020, when the Browns ended their 18-year playoff drought and every player on the team was embraced to the core in the city.
He wants to build another season like that again, only with a different ending.
A Super Bowl.
"There is no question that we have unfinished business," he said. "These are exciting times. It's a lot of blood, sweat and tears that was put into these last few years. I owe it all to God. We just have to keep working. I'm just going to go back to the drawing board, figure out what I have to perfect and what I have to do right or what I can do better and get back to work."
