Chargers make David Njoku decision after Mike McDaniel shares big goal for Justin Herbert

Those running the Los Angeles Chargers clearly believe that new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will prove to be a massive benefit for star quarterback Justin Herbert.

On Monday morning, word broke that the Chargers had given Herbert a new weapon for the 2026 season. 

What did David Njoku receive from the Chargers? 

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Chargers and former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $8M. Njoku had played only for the Browns since they grabbed him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. However, he lost the Cleveland TE1 job to 2025 rookie Harold Fannin Jr. this past season. 

Across 12 games during the 2025 campaign, Njoku tallied 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, ESPN stats show that Fannin led the 2025 Browns with 72 receptions, 107 targets, 731 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. The Chargers will now hope that Njoku, 29, will reclaim the form that saw him earn a Pro Bowl nod for the 2023 season. 

What Mike McDaniel wants from Justin Herbert this coming season

While serving as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel unlocked the best play of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's pro career to date. If history repeats itself with the Chargers, Herbert could soon become one of the league's top overall offensive players.

"We’re looking to master and be elite at everything that we do, and being able to own the position in a new way," McDaniel recently said about what he wants Herbert to become, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. "For him to own the position in a way he never has and ultimately for it to be obvious to everyone around he’s playing the best football of his career, and that’s kind of how we’ve approached it. That’s been our vision and expectations."

This past January, Herbert fell to 0-3 as a postseason starter after the Chargers suffered a 16-3 wild-card loss at the New England Patriots. If McDaniel achieves his goal regarding Herbert's development, the five-year, $262.5M contract extension that the 28-year-old signed in the summer of 2023 could look like an absolute bargain for the Chargers.