The Cleveland Browns front office has done a splendid job retooling their offense.
They brought in Amari Cooper to fill Jarvis Landry‘s spot and signed Ethan Pocic to stabilize their vaunted offensive line.
Signing Deshaun Watson to a five-year, fully-guaranteed $230 million contract is their biggest catch this offseason.
But even before they made these transactions, the Browns kicked off the 2022 league year by assigning the franchise tag to tight end David Njoku.
That approach bought them time to negotiate a contract extension and let Austin Hooper sign with the Tennessee Titans.
However, Njoku shocked Browns fans with his recent tweet saying, “Good Morning all, I have instructed my agent @malkikawa to seek a trade. I want my fans to know first….”
He confessed that it was all an April Fools’ prank a few minutes later.
April Fools baby https://t.co/7V90aGXa4Z pic.twitter.com/EaHSQhILfS
— Chief David Njoku (@David_Njoku80) April 1, 2022
His subsequent tweet contained a GIF showing Jerry Stiller saying, “I’ve got two words for you, I’m staying right here!”
Fans are relieved to learn that it was all a joke.
However, his emergence as a dependable tight end is no joke.
After a disappointing 2020 season, the former Miami Hurricane improved in 2021 with 475 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Last season, his best game came against the Los Angeles Chargers, wherein he had seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Contract Extension Talks Are Ongoing
While Njoku will get a one-year, fully-guaranteed deal worth $11 million in 2022, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirmed that both parties are in active talks on an extension.
With the way things are going, there is the confidence that a new deal will be in place by the July 15 deadline.
The annual average value of his new contract may be in the ballpark of the tag.
NEXT: Roger Goodell Offers No Clarity For Browns Fans On Deshaun Watson
