The Browns see a bright future ahead for tight end David Njoku and tagged him their franchise player to give them more time to negotiate a multi-year contract. (Associated Press)
Franchise tag for tight end David Njoku means bigger role in 2022 and future multi-year contract
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from the first round of Browns business moves …
By tagging tight end David Njoku with the franchise designation before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline, the Browns bought themselves four months’ time to work out a longer-term contract.
The franchise tag for tight ends – the average of the top five salaries at the position -- is valued at $10.9 million. The Browns have until July 15 to sign Njoku to a new deal, or he’ll play in 2022 for $10.9 million.
There’s no doubt the Browns intend to lock up Njoku for longer than this season.
“He has come a long way, I would say both on and off the field, and that is a credit to him and how hard he has worked,” GM Andrew Berry said at the NFL Combine last week. “David as a player, he still is only 25 years old. I think he is close to maturity, and I think as his opportunities improve, his impact will, as well.”
That last line – “I think as his opportunities improve, his impact will, as well.” – indicates Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski have bigger plans for Njoku in 2022.
In 2020, Njoku asked to be traded after Berry made Atlanta free agent Austin Hooper the league’s highest-paid tight end (four years/$42 million) and then drafted Harrison Bryant in the fourth round. Njoku changed his mind after the Browns picked up his fifth-year option for $6 million.
In 2021, Njoku opened the season as TE2, and wound up third on the team with 36 receptions, third with 475 receiving yards and first with four touchdown receptions. Njoku was second among the tight ends with 670 snaps on offense (64 percent), to Hooper’s 717.
In five seasons with the Browns, Njoku has averaged 39 receptions for 351 yards and three TD.
Njoku is only the second Browns player to receive the franchise tag. Kicker Phil Dawson was tagged in 2011, and then again in 2012. Dawson was not re-signed and he signed a free agent contract with the 49ers in 2013.
Whither Hooper?
Does Njoku’s franchise tag and possible new deal mean the end for Hooper?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Hooper is due $9.5 million in the third year of his contract and carries a cap number of $13.25 million. If he is cut or traded, Hooper would count $11.25 million on the salary cap. If the Browns designate Hooper a post-June 1 cut, the dead money would be split into $3.75 million in 2022 and $9.5 million in 2023.
Either way, it’s significant dead money for a player the new regime hand-picked to be the centerpiece of Stefanski’s multiple tight end scheme.
At the Combine, Stefanski didn’t sound as if he were planning a scheme change.
“We talked a lot about 13 personnel [three tight ends] because those are our tight ends, and we feel strongly about those players,” he said. “If your roster evolves, you better be ready to evolve, but we are not tied to any one specific personnel.
“The fun part for us and the three guys that we have is all of their skillsets, we try to use it as a puzzle to piece them all together to get the most out of those particular players.”
So if the Browns cut Hooper, they would have to add another tight end – and a corresponding salary cap number – to continue running Stefanski’s offensive scheme.
It still could happen, but Hooper’s contract has a much more tolerable out after the 2022 season. It will only cost a dead cap charge of $3.75 million then.
More moves
The Browns declined to exercise fullback Andy Janovich’s option for $1.6 million, making him a free agent. Janovich’s snap count decreased from 171 (18 percent) in 2020 to 92 (11 percent) in 2021. Johnny Stanton was signed to a futures contract last month and figures to take over as the fullback …
The Browns are likely to terminate the contract of receiver Jarvis Landry ($14.3 million) this week to allow Landry to get a jumpstart on the free-agent signing period, which begins March 16. At the Combine, Stefanski said of Landry, “I think you have seen countless examples of this is a business. I think the players understand that, and sometimes there are situations that are hard. We will work through all of those. Ultimately, we just have to let this one play out.” …
Backup quarterback Case Keenum’s fate will be decided no later than March 21. That’s when he is due a $1 million roster bonus. Keenum is also due a base salary of $6.1 million and carries a cap number of $8.43 million. Cutting him would save $7.1 million on the cap.
