Los Angeles, May 11, 2026, 04:45 PDT
- Los Angeles has reached a one-year agreement with former Browns tight end David Njoku, a deal that could pay him as much as $8 million.
- With the deal done, Mike McDaniel gets a proven pass catcher as he revamps Justin Herbert’s offense.
- Harold Fannin Jr. was already taking over the tight end group in Cleveland, as Njoku’s usage and output slipped last season.
David Njoku is heading to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal that could pay him as much as $8 million, according to NFL Network. The tight end wraps up a nine-year stint with the Browns, now landing as another experienced option for quarterback Justin Herbert. ESPN confirmed the agreement Monday, citing sources.
The timing works out for Los Angeles. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is pushing to get Herbert’s release quicker, and Njoku adds a versatile tight end—someone who can shift around the formation instead of just staying put as a blocker.
Last week, McDaniel put it plainly: he expects Herbert to “own the position in a new way” and deliver the “best football of his career.” The Chargers’ website went a step further, quoting him as saying Herbert had already “exceeded” the lofty expectations set for him as he picked up the offense. Los Angeles Chargers
David Njoku, now 29, entered the league as Cleveland’s first-round selection in 2017. Across his time with the Browns, he totaled 384 catches, 4,062 yards, and 34 touchdowns. Njoku hit personal bests last year—81 receptions, 882 yards, six touchdowns—and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023.
Things slowed down for Njoku last season: 33 receptions, 293 yards, four touchdowns. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. ended up as Cleveland’s top target at tight end. That spot flips between blocking and receiving duties—especially in the middle of the field—so it doesn’t take much for a player’s targets to drop.
Njoku lands with the Chargers, stepping into a tight ends group that already features Oronde Gadsden II and Charlie Kolar—suddenly a more versatile mix. According to , Los Angeles needed Njoku’s receiving chops behind Gadsden after earlier attempts to slot in blocking-first tight ends as pass-catchers fell short.
The agreement wraps up what was a brief free-agent pursuit. Njoku met with the Baltimore Ravens back in March—Pro Football Talk reported that. The Chargers had hosted him just earlier this month before bringing him out west.
Cleveland’s decision was layered. Two tough years with injuries, Fannin stepping up, and a reluctance to pay up for Njoku now—those were the main points, according to The Sporting News. The Browns have also stocked the tight end position, bringing in Jack Stoll and rookies Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan.
Still, Los Angeles faces plenty of risk with this signing. Njoku’s 2025 numbers lagged far behind what he put up in 2023, and “worth up to” $8 million doesn’t spell out how much is tied to incentives or contingencies. Should Gadsden hang onto the primary receiver spot while Kolar takes on the blocking load, Njoku might end up in a more limited role than that headline figure implies.
Even so, the Chargers opted for a familiar spring move—one-year deal, patch a roster hole, and no strings if it doesn’t work out. Herbert now gets another target as the offense tries to retool ahead of September.
