Tight end David Njoku. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Should Broncos target one-time Pro Bowl TE David Njoku in free agency?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 4:02 PM ET

The Denver Broncos are in the market for a tight end again this offseason. Perhaps they should explore adding one-time Pro Bowler David Njoku.

On Monday night, Njoku confirmed he won't return to the Cleveland Browns next season and will enter free agency when the window opens on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.

"Cleveland, first off, I love you," he wrote on Instagram. "These nine years have been a beautiful journey. I am so grateful for all the memories we shared together. Thank you to the Haslams, Andrew Berry and the whole Browns organization for everything!! All my teammates I shared the battle with I'm so grateful for you guys. The time for me to find a new home has come and all I can think of is just the gratefulness in my heart. The city of Cleveland will forever be home."

Would Denver be a good new home for the 29-year-old TE?

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David Njoku shouldn't be the Broncos' top target in free agency, but they must keep him on their watch list

Adding Njoku would feel similar to the Evan Engram signing, which didn't work out. After the Broncos gave him a two-year, $23M deal last offseason, he had 461 yards and one touchdown catch in 16 regular-season games.

He failed to deliver in the postseason as well. Engram logged just two receptions for 19 yards in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Njoku hasn't eclipsed 882 receiving yards since making the Pro Bowl in 2023. Last season, the TE logged 293 receiving yards in 11 games, the third-lowest mark of his nine-year career. He has also missed 11 games over the past two seasons because of knee issues.

Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts would clearly be a better option for Denver. He earned a 2025 second-team All-Pro nod after totaling 928 receiving yards in 17 games.

However, Pitts will be one of the more expensive free agents. Spotrac estimates his market value is a four-year deal worth $10.8M annually. The site projects that Denver will have $26.03M in cap space at the start of the offseason.

If Denver misses out on Pitts, it could pivot to Njoku. He's not a top-tier TE anymore, but he would give Broncos quarterback Bo Nix another solid target. He needs plenty of those to lead the club to its first Super Bowl win since the 2015 season.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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