The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2025 season with one of the league’s most underwhelming tight end rooms. After missing out on Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the team is left with relying on the veteran duo of Tyler Conkin and Will Dissly. While both bring valuable experience, the Chargers drafting Oronde Gadsden Jr. in the fifth round doesn’t move the needle either.
That’s where Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay’s hypothetical trade idea, sending Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku to the Chargers, becomes intriguing.
Why Trading for David Njoku Would Elevate the Chargers’ Offense
GettyCleveland Browns tight end David Njoku would elevate the Los Angeles Chargers’ passing attack.
In Kay’s recent piece, “7 Shocking NFL Trades That Will Impact Playoff Races in 2025,” he proposes a low-cost, high-upside deal:
- Cleveland Browns receive: 2026 fifth-round pick
- Los Angeles Chargers receive: TE David Njoku
At first glance, it may not seem like a blockbuster trade. But it could be one of the most underrated moves any NFL team makes this offseason.
Njoku, a former first-round pick, has had an inconsistent career in Cleveland largely due to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play. However, when healthy, he’s shown the ability to be one of the league’s most dangerous tight ends. In 2023, he put together a career-best Pro Bowl season with 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, despite missing six games, he still managed a solid 64/505/5 stat line.
Now entering a contract year, the 28-year-old tight end could be on the move, especially with Cleveland investing a 2025 third-round pick in rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who led the FBS in receptions and receiving yards. If the Browns feel confident in Fannin’s ability to step up right away, Njoku can become expendable.
For the Chargers, the opportunity to snag a proven offensive weapon for only a fifth-rounder is a no-brainer. Njoku would instantly elevate the passing attack and offer Justin Herbert a dependable option over the middle and in the red zone.
His skillset also fits seamlessly with offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s vision of a balanced, play-action heavy system. His ability to stretch the seam, break tackles, and block effectively would provide the kind of versatility Los Angeles simply doesn’t have at TE. Plus, Njoku’s 33.3 pass routes per game over the last two seasons are the third-most for tight ends. If anyone can handle a large workload at tight end, it’s him.
The only downside for the Chargers is that Njoku is heading into the final year of his four-year, $56.75 million contract, so the team would have to either re-sign him or let him walk after next season.
A Playoff-Impacting Move
It feels like the Chargers are missing just one piece on offense. Adding Njoku in the mix could be the final piece of the puzzle, and it would send a clear message to the rest of the league: the Chargers are serious about competing now.
With the AFC West up for grabs and a restructured defense under Jesse Minter, bolstering the tight end room should be a priority. A healthy, motivated Njoku playing alongside Ladd McConkey and the rest of the weapons on offense could be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.
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