Tight end David Njoku agreed to terms on a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Monday. The deal is reportedly worth up to $8 million, according to the NFL Network.
Njoku was ranked No. 76 in The Athletic’s Top 150 free agents and eighth among tight ends.
The 29-year-old has spent his entire career with the Cleveland Browns, who selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. His most productive season came in 2023 when he earned a Pro Bowl nod after posting career highs of 81 catches, 882 yards and six touchdowns.
While Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz left the draft last month with solid depth up and down the roster, two positions were thinner than others: cornerback and tight end. The Chargers did not draft a player at either position, but by signing Njoku, the tight end room is complete.
The Chargers signed former Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar in free agency. They also added fullback Alec Ingold, who played for Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in Miami the past four seasons. Ingold is a versatile blocker and can execute from various alignments, including inline on the line of scrimmage. The Chargers also return Oronde Gadsden, who proved to be an ascending option in the passing game as a rookie last season. Njoku, who becomes the fourth piece in this fullback/tight end rotation, is an explosive athlete with yards-after-the-catch ability. He can also win in contested catch situations and will be a natural fit in McDaniel’s passing game.
Chargers tight ends coach Chandler Henley said Monday that Njoku’s “experience” was very attractive. Njoku, who turns 30 in July, is entering his 10th NFL season. Henley believes Njoku will be a “valuable” asset for Gadsden.
“I’m banking on the athleticism and the history of a really good, proven NFL football player,” Henley said. “He’s going to be able to fit in right away and really in all schemes, both run and pass. To me, that’s why he’s such a cool complement to the room.”
Henley also mentioned Njoku’s receiving ability in the red zone. Njoku has caught 25 red-zone touchdowns since he was drafted in 2017, tied for ninth among tight ends in that span, according to TruMedia.
“People know that, and so when he’s in the game, people already know who he is,” Henley said. “He’s also going to help open up for other people.”
This signing makes Scott Matlock’s path to the 53-man roster a bit more difficult. Matlock was drafted as a defensive lineman in 2023 under the previous regime. In 2024, coach Jim Harbaugh moved Matlock to offense as a fullback/tight end. Matlock improved in that phase over two seasons but was still very much in the learning process. Matlock was better when blocking downhill as opposed to laterally on the move. He did not show very consistent spatial awareness. That weakness means Matlock is a tough fit in McDaniel’s offense, particularly in the run game. Njoku certainly has more functional movement, even if he is a more impactful pass catcher than run blocker.
Henley said he has already been “very, very impressed” with Matlock thus far. The Chargers are now in their second week of on-field work with position coaches and players.
