david njoku is joining the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million. The move gives Justin Herbert another pass-catching option and comes after Njoku met with the team earlier this month following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Njoku Joins Herbert's Passing Game
The Chargers needed more receiving help at tight end, and Njoku supplies it. He arrives as a proven target behind Oronde Gadsden II in a group that also includes Charlie Kolar.
Njoku spent nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns and left with 4,062 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. He was a first-round pick in 2017 and reached the Pro Bowl in 2023, the same season he posted career highs with 882 yards and six touchdowns.
Cleveland's Shift at Tight End
His final year in Cleveland showed the change in the Browns' depth chart. In 2025, Njoku had 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games, while rookie Harold Fannin Jr. moved ahead of him.
That drop in production set up the opening for a new landing spot, and the Chargers moved on it. Njoku gives them flexibility in the passing game, while Herbert gets another reliable middle-of-the-field target to work with in a passing offense that needs more options at tight end.
Chargers Add Proven Production
Los Angeles is not buying a projection here. It is adding a player with nine seasons of output, a 2023 Pro Bowl on his resume, and a clear track record of scoring in the red zone.
For the Chargers, the deal is short and the cost is defined. For Njoku, it is a fresh role after nine years in Cleveland and a chance to slot into a tighter, more specific job behind Gadsden and alongside Kolar.
