Browns Face $24.3M Penalty After Losing TE David Njoku

Njoku is leaving the Browns after 9 seasons, costing the team a hefty financial hit.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 2:31am

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The Cleveland Browns are losing tight end David Njoku to free agency after 9 seasons with the team. Njoku's departure will cost the Browns a substantial $24.3 million in dead cap space due to a previous contract restructuring. Despite Njoku's rocky tenure that included trade requests and off-field issues, he developed into a reliable weapon for the Browns over the last year of his contract.

Why it matters

Njoku's exit marks the end of an era for the Browns, who will now have to rebuild at the tight end position. The hefty financial penalty the team faces highlights the challenges of managing player contracts and the impact of restructuring deals, especially for key players who ultimately depart.

The details

Njoku, a former first-round draft pick, signed a 4-year, $54.75 million extension with the Browns in 2022. However, the contract was restructured multiple times, pushing the void date back to February 2029 and adding "dummy" salaries for 2026-2028. This allows the Browns to designate Njoku as a post-June 1 release, resulting in $24.3 million in dead cap space.

  • Njoku announced his plans to sign elsewhere in free agency in February 2026.
  • The Browns must designate Njoku as a post-June 1 release by March 13, 2026, or a $75 million salary in 2028 becomes fully guaranteed.

The players

David Njoku

A former first-round draft pick by the Browns, Njoku developed into a reliable tight end over 9 seasons in Cleveland despite some off-field issues and trade requests.

The Haslams

The owners of the Cleveland Browns organization.

Andrew Berry

The general manager of the Cleveland Browns.

Harold Fannin Jr.

A rookie tight end who emerged for the Browns, making Njoku's departure more palatable.

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What they’re saying

“Cleveland, first off I love you. These 9 years have been a beautiful journey. I'm am so grateful for all the memories we shared together.”

— David Njoku

What’s next

The Browns must designate Njoku as a post-June 1 release by March 13, 2026, to avoid a $75 million salary in 2028 becoming fully guaranteed.

The takeaway

Njoku's departure highlights the challenges NFL teams face in managing player contracts, especially for key players who ultimately leave the team. The Browns' $24.3 million in dead cap space underscores the importance of carefully structuring deals and the potential pitfalls of contract restructuring.