David Njoku reacts to remaining with 2-6 Browns through trade deadline

Tight end David Njoku was one of several Cleveland Browns players who were previously linked with other teams but ultimately remained with the Browns through Tuesday's trade deadline. 

One may assume Njoku is upset about the fact that he won't be able to pursue a Super Bowl ring during the second half of the ongoing season. However, he made it quite clear on Wednesday that he didn't want to go anywhere. 

David Njoku "happy" to still be with Browns amid uncertainty

"I’m happy as hell, bro," Njoku said about still being a member of the 2-6 Browns, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "...I’m happy. It’s because I’m here."

Njoku is in the final season of the extension he signed in the spring of 2022 and could soon be deemed surplus to requirements for a Browns team that is likely more than one offseason away from competing. ESPN stats show that rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. heads into Week 10 leading the Browns with 38 receptions and 352 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Njoku has tallied 27 receptions for 260 yards over seven games. 

Njoku, Fannin and Cedric Tillman share the team lead with two touchdown catches. 

"Of course," Njoku responded when asked if he was worried he would be traded ahead of Tuesday's deadline. "I was terrified." 

Njoku also revealed he only learned of his fate once the deadline expired at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. 

Does David Njoku want to re-sign with Browns?

It's unclear if current Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski will still be employed by the team when the playoffs get underway. Nevertheless, Njoku basically campaigned for the current regime to re-sign him while speaking with media members on Wednesday. 

"I’m in Cleveland, baby," he added during his comments. "I’m not going nowhere. I ain’t (expletive) leaving...I’m not leaving." 

As The Athletic's Zac Jackson pointed out, the Browns failed to get better or build for the future via pre-deadline decisions. That could lead one to believe that Berry and Stefanski haven't yet been promised anything about their jobs beyond Week 18.

For now, Njoku is set to feature for the Browns when they play at a 1-7 New York Jets side that embraced a franchise reset on Tuesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, ESPN BET had Cleveland as a 2.5-point road favorite for this Sunday's contest at MetLife Stadium.