DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns franchise tag David Njoku

More than 24 hours before the deadline. Perhaps the FO assumed they were too far off to get something long-term by tomorrow??

Ok, so he's definitely staying in the CLE!


https://www.spotrac.com/spots/projected-2022-nfl-tenders-franchise-tag-values-1349/

Tight End: $11M


That's a pretty big paycheck for The Chief.

Can't say I would have been surprised either way.

I believe the franchise tag for TEs is $11.8M. Does this mean Njoku's camp was looking for more than that?

I think it is $10.8MM and often times it is about guaranteed dollars, not avg. per year.

I don't know that they were. There's a huge difference here. The franchise tag is a one year deal. A new contract would be a multi year deal. Committing to one year at 11.8 mil. is a lot different than committing to 11.8 mil. for four years. If you feel you need a player for "right now" you franchise him.

j/c:

Three players also tendered w/ the Njoku news.

Tendered exclusive rights players (3):

WR Ja'Marcus Bradley

G Michael Dunn

OL Blake Hance

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/new...d-njoku-as-franchise-player-tender-three

Good news!

I'm glad that they want him back. Here's hoping that they can work out a longer contract that both sides are satisfied with. I'd prefer to avoid an acrimonious holdout.

I agree with this take. If you end up signing Njoku long-term or just one year I suppose, you have to target him far, far more, especially in the RZ. If not, you are simply pissing away money.

I like the fact that we are bringing him back , now if we would just put him to good use . Our offense has under utilized alot of talent .

He’ll probably be the #1 tight end in 2022 because Hooper is likely gone. That’ll bump him up the usage chart.

Buys them some additional time to get a long term deal done. Hopefully, they are able to work something out.

random thoughts running in my head right now...

There are three things that limit opportunities:

1. too much talent to spread the ball to
2. a really poor offense
3. a really good offense

Our offense definitely spreads the ball around.
That much can change, but whether we're looking at the really good 2020 offense or the really ugly 2021 offense, the problem remains that opportunities were limited, but for opposite reasons.

Last year, we had trouble staying on the field and extending drives. In 2020, we all too frequently went down the field and scored in just a handful of plays. It's great to get points, and that is absolutely Goal #1 at all times, but it does still limit touches.


Just sort of amusing myself with the double-edged sword of statistics.

Does this spell the departure of Hooper? Seems like a lot to pay two TE's - $10M+ each?

Departure of Hooper, or not as splashy of a WR FA signing. Something, somewhere has to give, right?

Hooper has got to be toast.

Well, we paid 2 overrated/overpriced WRs a total of $30M in 2021 so who knows?

Secondly, it might not even play out like this. Njoku could strike a long-term deal paying him a lower amount in the first year. Or they could restructure Hooper as well.

I think there are a few options on the table to consider.

I agree. Fairly good chance Hooper is not back, but it could work to where the Browns absorb his salary one more year.

Another option is working out a trade. The market is thin for TEs and Berry might be able to find a team will take Hooper for a 5th or 6th round pick. 4th round pick if Berry can get that preacher running the show for the Texans on the phone.

So, Berry puts the franchise tag on Njoku for a production level of an average of 30 receptions and 3 TD's per year over the last 5-years. The dead cap hit on Hooper is 11.25M if they release him and 13.25M if they keep him on the roster. No matter how they cut it, Hooper is going to cost them either 11.25M this year if cut now or over the spread out over the next 2-years if cut after June 1. Kelce KCC is scheduled to make 8.855M in 2022 and the Browns are now going to be paying two guys 20% or more each than arguably the best TE in the NFL for 30 something receptions each. That's a head scratcher.

Considering either thru the draft, FA, or trades - the Browns have zero starting WR's, they have zero starting DT's, they have to address DE and LB, and they are in serious need of OL depth. After franchising Njoku, the Browns now currently have a Team Cap Space: $18,020,115. Certainly a whole lot of holes to fill to be dropping 2 salaries on TE's that have them getting paid more than the #1 TE in the NFL. All that money for less than 40 receptions a year - sure makes you want to think - Hmmmmmm.

Good points.

If we cut Hooper with a June 1st designation and Njoku plays on the tag then we will have the same amount of money committed to the tight end position in 2022 as we did in 2021.

If you were Hooper, would you restructure your contract knowing the team is trying to get rid of you? Hooper is still owed 11.25M in 2022 of his guaranteed contract money that the Browns spread out in yearly signing bonuses and option bonuses. The Browns will have to pay the guaranteed money no matter what they intend to do. You can bet that the Browns have no intention of extending him and giving up guaranteed money is just plain foolish. This is an ugly situation and has just been compounded by franchising Njoku. After what the Browns did with Hooper the last two years, his market is obviously low. Why would he even consider giving the Browns a restructure after franchising Njoku? If the Browns keep Hooper, he gets his 13.25m. If they cut him, he gets his 11.25M guarantee still owed him. Either way - the Browns are going to be paying Hooper in 2022.

Read my post again. I don’t think you understand what I said.

True but then you have dead cap on Hooper in 2023 with other players coming due. It doesn't matter how you slice it, the guaranteed money is going to be paid and the Browns just franchised a player that had less receptions than Hooper in 2021 and has averaged only 30 receptions per year and 3 TD's for the 5-years he's been on the Browns. My question is are the Browns going to give Schwartz 6-years to get up to speed at his position? How about Mack Wilson or Hance or Hudson? Don't those players deserve 6 years to show what they can do? My question is: Is Njoku (10.8M Tag in 2022) a better blocker and receiver than Kelce (8.855M in 2022) or Andrews (9.657M in 2022)? Njoku couldn't even carry those guys jockstraps yet the Browns are paying him more? I certainly hope Berry has some grand plan in the works because this is a dumber deal than they gave Hooper. Especially considering Stefanski runs a run first scheme.

The deal they gave Hooper was dumb (especially with benefit of hindsight). There's no reason to compound that bad decision by letting Njoku walk because you're overpaying Hooper. Franchise tag could just be the FO buying time to get Njoku under a contract. Njoku has improved across the board, and can be a weapon in the passing game. For the system that we run, he should be featured more. I don't know why he wasn't featured more this year, but with the money they've committed, that problem should be rectified.

We'll see.............IMHO, people will be screaming because of his lack of production early and often.

Comparing Njoku’s cap hit in 2022 to better players either shows you lack an understanding of how contracts work or are completely dishonest.

Not all players should be viewed the same. My guess is that the teams Njoku as an ascending player as he has five years of experience and has not entered his age 26 season.

This is "keeping our own."

To expand on your post...

Says the guy who in another post is talking about WR free agent tiers and the costs of each tier. I understand exactly how contracts work. Hooper has his contract because he was a 2 time all pro averaging over 70 receptions per season. Stats Hooper had in two years that it has taken Njoku 5-years to attain. Now those are the facts. It is also a fact that Stefanski has cut the number of targets to all receivers since he came to Cleveland.

Njoku had 19 receptions in all of 2020 and 36 in 2021 for a grand total of 54 receptions in 2-years that just got him a 10.8M franchise tag. Hooper had 71 and 75 receptions the 2-years before coming to Cleveland - more than 91 total receptions over what Njoku has produced. If you're comparing apples to apples, Hooper has had 46 receptions in 2020 and 38 receptions in 2021 or 30 more than Njoku during the same time period. If Hooper hasn't earned his salary over the last 2-years (which by the way - Hooper was only 26 in his first year with the Browns) then how in the hell can anyone say a guy going into his 6th year with the other TE having 30 more receptions over that period is ascending and justify that lower TE to a top tier TE contract?

I don't disagree that Hooper has a bad deal when the Browns are going to run a scheme that does not feature passing in any way. Signing another TE to a similar deal when there's no indication that the scheme the Browns are going to run is any different than it was the last 2-years is a plain waste of money. It will be very very interesting to see how the Browns address the WR situation now. It may tell us a lot more about the direction of this team.

Let's not forget - the Browns currently have zero starting DT's, only 1 starting DE, LB needs, and offensive line depth issues that also need to be addressed.

J/C I think Njoku might get more flex snaps to replace some of Landry's snaps. Stefanski seems to love Hooper. He and Berry have been much less effusive about Landry (or at least using past tense) and we'd get 15M in cap room if we release him instead of Hooper.

They like Hooper, and we're paying him either way, so I don't see him going anywhere.

Plus, I wanna watch Njoku bully some DBs.

steve0255, IMO, the Browns are moving on from Njoku after this year. They didn't want to commit to a long-term deal. Bryant will complete his third year. They draft another mid-round TE this year. Signing Hooper was a stopgap. I don't think they thought Njoku would play well last year. Njoku surprised them.

IMO, the goal here is to be a factory of pass catchers (WR/TE). If they land one great pass catcher, they constantly surround him with good talent. Having a plethora of offensive playmakers allows them to control the clock.

That’s. . . not great.

Njoku supposedly has a long term offer on the table.

What wide receiver tiers?