With George Kittle’s recent injury, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in need of a strategy to compensate for his absence early in the season. While Jake Tonges is likely to play a role in this plan, his contributions may not suffice alone. The team will require additional depth, versatility, and a tight end capable of making an impact in both aspects of their offense.
One potential candidate to join the 49ers roster is David Njoku, a free agent and longtime player for the Cleveland Browns. Njoku’s tenure with the Browns, which began in 2017, seems to be approaching its conclusion after being surpassed on the depth chart by rookie Harold Fanin last year. This shift has negatively affected Njoku’s market value as he heads into free agency, potentially creating an opportunity for San Francisco to acquire him.
In recent times, Njoku has experienced a decline in production, having recorded only 293 receiving yards in the past season and averaging 1.06 yards per route run, which lowered his career average to 1.43. However, despite these statistics, Njoku maintained substantial playing time and has shown marked improvement as a blocker, which is a significant asset for the 49ers’ offensive scheme. Last season, Kittle and Tonges were seldom used together, as Tonges was not viewed as a robust enough blocker to make two-tight-end sets effective.
Njoku brings balance to the tight end position. Although he may not be as strong a blocker as Luke Farrell, he excels as a receiver and surpasses Tonges in blocking reliability. Although Tonges outperformed Njoku in yardage and yards-per-route-run last season, Njoku’s well-rounded skills would allow the 49ers to adopt varied personnel groupings.
In the immediate term, Njoku could help the offense remain competitive while Kittle recovers. Upon Kittle’s return, Njoku would enhance offensive options, allowing the team to exploit defenses down the field and creating mismatches in heavier formations, something that was limited in the previous season.
Critically, Njoku’s athleticism remains top-tier, and his past struggles may stem from a lack of opportunity in Cleveland rather than a decrease in skill. A short-term deal with a high-performing team like the 49ers could serve as a valuable chance for Njoku to restore his market value following a challenging 2025 season.
Projections from Spotrac estimate that Njoku could command a two-year contract worth approximately $19.9 million. While this figure is not insignificant, it falls within the budget range the 49ers may consider for bolstering their skill-position depth, especially given Kittle’s uncertain early-season availability.
Though pursuing Njoku may not be the most conventional move for San Francisco, he poses as an intriguing possibility. If the 49ers seek to enhance offensive adaptability and safeguard against potential challenges at the tight end position in the initial phase of the season, Njoku could be a name to strongly consider. As the season approaches, proactive decisions like these could positively shape the 49ers’ playoff aspirations.