NFL Trade Rumors: Trey Hedrickson’s Baltimore Ravens could accommodate $19M Cleveland Browns tight end

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell released a list of players still available on the free agency market. Our hearts go out to them. But these are gems. One of them is David Njoku. The 29-year-old Cleveland Browns tight end who announced his franchise farewell in February.He had been with the team for nine long years and expressed his boundless gratitude in a heartfelt social media post. As soon as the news of his departure got out, several teams were linked to him.For instance, the Kansas City Chiefs. Because their in-house tight end, Travis Kelce, had not made any decision on his retirement or return in February, it only came on March 11, just when the new league year began.Anyhow, after that, trades happened, popular free agents were signed by several franchises in dire need of a robust roster, and the only one who remained was the Cleveland tight end.

Ravens projected TE David Njoku’s past two seasons in Browns plagued by injuries

Barnwell reports that injuries have taken up most of Njoku’s playing time over the last two seasons. A knee injury kept him out for 10 games. His route efficiency was severely affected. From averaging 11.3 yards per catch in his three-year peak, he dropped to 8.2 yards per catch in the last two years. From 22 catches, he came down to just five in 2024 and 2025.In the past five seasons, he also recorded the highest drop rate among tight ends in the NFL [200 targets].

It could also be due to the famous quarterback situation in Cleveland.

David Njoku’s connection to Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson

For the past five years, there has been no consistent signal-caller in the Browns. Njoku’s best years came when Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield played for Cleveland.In his rookie year, he recorded a career-best 56 catches for 639 yards. He was targeted 88 times that year. Mayfield was traded in a shocking blockbuster trade to the Carolina Panthers.

And in came Deshaun Watson. David developed rapport with Deshaun, but due to Watson’s inconsistencies and injuries, their gridiron camaraderie was short-lived.Then came Watson’s permanent absence for much of 2024 and the entire 2025 season, which thoroughly led to Njoku’s downfall. The farewell in February from his longtime franchise may give him a new perspective on his NFL career, especially now that he’s almost 29, which marks the tail end of his prime and the beginning of a decline.

Cleveland tight end could take up Isaiah Likely’s spot in Baltimore

Barnwell suggests the Baltimore Ravens for Njoku. They lost Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in the first week of free agency. Likely signed a three-year, $40M contract with the New York Giants. Whereas Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3M contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.The Ravens signed Chicago Bears free agent Durham Smythe to take the place of Charlie Kolar in Baltimore. Smythe has 136 career catches and played under Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle in Chicago in 2025.Who remains is their longtime starter, Mark Andrews, but since his costly Lamar Jackson drop [against the Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills] is still a fresh memory for fans, an established tight end like David Njoku could come as a breath of fresh air.Isaiah Likely’s place is vacant, and Barnwell predicts Njoku can fit into it perfectly as the second tight end in Baltimore’s offense. Spotrac projects a two-year contract worth $19M, with an average annual salary of $10M. The Ravens currently have approx. $58.5M in salary cap space for 2026 after Lamar Jackson’s contract was restricted, and it freed up $40M. They can accommodate Njoku, but would they want another blockbuster player after acquiring defensive end Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals? Only time will tell…