The David Njoku trade rumors are a perfect fit for the Patriots.
The New England Patriots are slated to move forward with a rookie TE combo of Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi fronting their plans for 2020, but another excellent option may have just fallen into their laps.
Spurred on by the Browns’ offseason acquisition of Austin Hooper on a mega-deal, as well as their fourth-round selection of FAU TE Harrison Bryant, tantalizing pass-catcher David Njoku has officially asked out of The Land, giving credence to the long-bubbling trade rumors surrounding his name.
At this point, Njoku can be had — though Kevin Stefanski loves to deploy two-tight-end sets, he…already has two other key tight ends on his roster, and the former 2017 first-rounder seems to want nothing to do with his vision.
Hearing the #Cowboys are one team that might have some interest in #Browns TE Njoku https://t.co/9ZiynBUhBo
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) July 3, 2020
Fine. We can help there.
It would seem the going rate for Njoku, who piled up 639 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his most recent full season in 2018, would be a third-rounder. New England was docked such a pick, however, for whatever their role in the 2019 sideline-filming fiasco was.
As such, perhaps a fourth- and seventh-round package would sway a desperate Cleveland team in a similar fashion? After all, it’s hard to maximize an asset when he’s already packed his bags. Bill Belichick knows this.
The Patriots Dynasty after Bill Belichick adds Cam Newton and David Njoku in the span of one week pic.twitter.com/AcgNVUTjPk
— Master At Work (@MasterAtWorkinc) July 3, 2020
It seems…ill-advised to acquire Cam Newton, and then force him to run his preferred offense with the “security blanket” of only two rookie tight ends. Newton used Greg Olsen to perfection as a safety valve (and occasional down-field threat) during his MVP season in 2015.
Though New England is bound to get experimental with their deployment of Newton this season, it would be foolhardy to involve stripping him of one of his favorite varieties of weapons in the process.
Is the 6-4 Njoku the man for the job? He certainly seems like a preferred option (remember when the Pats were going to get OJ Howard out of the Gronk deal?!), and would come relatively cheap.