Chiefs, 49ers named possible trade suitors for Browns' 6-foot-4 Pro Bowl playmaker
originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Cleveland Browns are off to an 0-2 start to the season and the lackluster campaign that many forecasted for the team is already taking shape.

If the Browns continue going down this road, they absolutely should be a seller at the NFL trade deadline, and one candidate to get dealt is veteran tight end David Njoku.

The 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract and will likely be looking for greener pastures in 2026 after a nine-year stint in Cleveland that has seen a lot of losing.

In order to avoid allowing Njoku to walk for nothing, the Browns should unload Njoku to the highest bidder. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox believes the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs could get involved.

Njoku would probably bring a premium return for the Browns, which is extremely noteworthy. If Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders doesn't look like a long-term QB solution by the end of this season, the Browns will chase one in the 2026 draft.

While Njoku isn't a perennial Pro Bowler, he's a more proven playmaker than what most other franchises have at tight end. Teams should be willing to part with a Day 2 selection to add him to their receiving corps.

Potential Suitors: Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers

Knox estimates a conditional third-round pick will be enough to acquire Njoku, but we don't see him garnering that much, especially given the fact that he'll be a free agent in 2026.

Another reason for the Browns to trade Njoku is to clear the way for Harold Fannin Jr. to get more work. The rookie is already off to a promising start to his career with 12 catches for 111 scoreless yards through two games.

One reason the Browns might hold on to Njoku is their young quarterbacks. Having a reliable tight end like the veteran would be invaluable for Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders when they finally get the football.

As for the Chiefs and 49ers being interested, we could maybe see San Francisco, but that would depend on the status of George Kittle, who is on injured reserve through Week 5.

Unless Kittle is going to miss a lot more time than his IR stint, it's hard to imagine San Francisco making a play for Njoku.

Kansas City does need more pass-catchers, but with Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Robert Tonyan already on the roster, there really isn't room for yet another tight end.

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