David Njoku could have signed with a number of teams earlier in the offseason.
But he wanted to play for the Los Angeles Chargers, which is why he waited to sign only recently.
The veteran tight end explained why he chose to wait until after last month’s NFL Draft and picked the Chargers to sign an incentive-laden one-year contract last week.
Njoku spent his first nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns, but they released him and designated him a post-June 1 cut with one year left on his four-year, $54 million contract. Njoku had just 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns with the Browns in 2025.
David Njoku Thought the Chargers Were the ‘Best Fit For Me’
Njoku is coming off his worst full season as a professional, which is a major reason why the Browns found him expendable, especially with new coach Todd Monken replacing Kevin Stefanski.
Still, Njoku was highly sought-after in free agency, even though he will turn 30 in two months. But with elite offensive minds Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel teaming up, he chose to wait until after the draft to join Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
“I could’ve signed before the draft in other places, but I chose to come here because I thought it was the best fit for me,” Njoku said. “It was my first free agency in my whole career. So it was new, it was different [and] took me out of my comfort zone of knowing where I was going to be. It was exciting, and I’m really glad to be here.”
The Chargers Have Needed a Tight End Like David Njoku
Despite Oronde Gadsden’s breakout season in 2025, the Chargers have been looking for a receiving-first tight end like Njoku since Harbaugh became coach before the 2024 season.
Only 22% of Herbert’s 3,953 passing yards went to tight ends last season (881), and Gadsden ranked 11th among tight ends in receiving yards (664) in 2025. Njoku has averaged 585 yards per 17 games over his career.
“Finding the perfect fit that I thought would be for personally; the best spot I could be successful in,” Njoku said when asked about why he chose the Chargers. “When I visited here, I really enjoyed it. I met with the coaches, the owners, everything.”
McDaniel has especially incorporated tight ends into his offense, especially with the Miami Dolphins where Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe had career years during McDaniel’s tenure as head coach.
With both Njoku and Gadsden, the Chargers could deploy more 12 personnel packages, which is two tight ends, two wide receivers and one running back. The tights ends, along with wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, can create mismatches in the passing game, and the Chargers could still run the ball if Herbert chooses to audible to running plays.
“We have a great quarterback here,” Njoku said. “Mike McDaniel is good, the head coach, Jim [Harbaugh]. It was really a cumulative of things that made me decide to come here.”
Njoku is open to supporting Gadsden’s growth as well.
“I do what I’m asked to do, even more some in ways I feel like I can help,” Njoku said. “I try to give as much of my knowledge to the other tight ends, but I try to the best I can do to help everybody.”
New Chargers TE David Njoku Explains Why He Waited to Sign Until After NFL Draft