The Cleveland Browns have seen the growth of tight end David Njoku in real-time. While he started his career on a rough patch, including being put in the doghouse by a former regime led by John Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens, Njoku has not only developed into a Pro Bowl tight end but part of the heart and soul of the Browns.
The rest of the room behind Njoku, however, is a bit lacking.
Jordan Akins was brought in as a receiving TE2, but the Browns got very little from him in the passing game a year ago. At just $2 million against the cap this year, however, the Browns will not find a better tight end at that pricepoint. Akins is not going anywhere.
However, the Browns did not draft a tight end as they enter the season with Giovanni Ricci (signed as a free agent this offseason) and Zaire Mitchell-Paden (a practice squad player over the past two seasons) at the bottom of the depth chart.
Where does this unit rank among the rest of the NFL? ESPN’s Mike Clay gives his answer. Here is how the various tight end rooms align according to Clay:
Tommy Tremble, Stephen Sullivan, Ian Thomas, Ja’Tavion Sanders
Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, John Bates, Cole Turner
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Josh Whyle, Nick Vannett, Thomas Odukoya
Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Devin Culp
Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Erick All
Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Hunter Long, Davis Allen
Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, Jody Fortson, Julian Hill
Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull, Nate Adkins
Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah, Zack Kuntz
Hayden Hurst, Will Dissly, Stone Smartt, Donald Parham
Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, A.J. Barner, Brady Russell
Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, Andrew Ogletree, Mo Alie-Cox
Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, Tommy Hudson
Dallas Goedert, C.J. Uzomah, Grant Calcaterra, Albert Okwuegbunam
Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, Luke Schoonmaker, John Stephens
Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan, Cade Stover, Teagan Quitoriano
Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, Theo Johnson
Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims, Tyler Davis
Pat Freiermuth, Connor Heyward, Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt
Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Blake Whiteheart
Kyle Pitts, Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner, John FitzPatrick
Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, Stephen Carlson, Tommy Sweeney
Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Mitchell Wilcox, Jaheim Bell
T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Robert Tonyan
David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Giovanni Ricci, Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Harrison Bryant, Zach Gentry
Evan Engram, Luke Farrell, Brenton Strange, Josiah Deguara
Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra
George Kittle, Cameron Latu, Eric Saubert, Brayden Willis
Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris, Zach Davidson
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Scotty Washington
Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Irv Smith Jr., Jared Wiley