Browns Make Intriguing Roster Addition Amid David Njoku Trade Rumors
Getty
Browns made intriguing move amid David Njoku trade rumors.
The Cleveland Browns could soon be preparing for life without star tight end David Njoku.
Ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline, the Browns could trade some key players and get some assets back. One name that has been mentioned as a trade candidate is tight end David Njoku.
With Njoku’s name coming up in trade rumors, the Browns claimed tight end Brenden Bates off waivers and waived cornerback Jarrick Bernard Converse.
The Browns claimed Bates off waivers from the Houston Texans, and this is now his second stint with the team. Bates was with the Browns for the last few weeks of the 2024 season and into training camp, before being waived after the 53-man roster was announced.
Bates began the season on the Browns’ practice squad, but the Texans signed him to the 53-man roster on Sept. 17.
In three games with the Texans, he’s recorded 2 receptions for 23 yards. The sophomore tight end adds some more depth to the position, with Njoku’s name coming up in trade rumors.
Bates went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft after playing his college career at Kentucky.
Insider Believes Browns May Not Trade Njoku
Although Njoku is in the final year of his deal and his name has come up in trade rumors, Cleveland may not move him.
Njoku has been a key part of the Browns’ offense for years, and insider Mary Kay Cabot isn’t ruling out the team re-signing him and not trading him.
“The Browns have no intentions of trading Njoku before the deadline Nov. 4, even though his contract is up after the season,” Cabot wrote. “The Browns will probably extend Njoku before his contract is up in March, or let him test the market to help set his price.
“It seems to me that Njoku wants to finish his career here and that the Browns would like to have him back. He’s key for them in the receiving and blocking games, and still one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Having said that, if a team makes the Browns an offer, they’ll listen.”
Njoku is in the final year of his four-year, $54.75 million deal with the Browns. He’s recorded 27 receptions for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns this season.
Browns Could Make an Offensive Change After Bye
Cleveland enters its bye after another blowout loss in a game in which the offense struggled.
Although Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the team would be remaining with Dillon Gabriel as their starting quarterback.
Yet, one change that the Browns could make is Stefanski turning over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
“Last season, Stefanski turned the play-calling over to former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey after Deshaun Watson went down with his re-torn Achilles in October, but things didn’t get any better down the stretch,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wrote Monday. “Perhaps a switch to Rees, who called plays at Notre Dame, where he played quarterback, and at Alabama, might jumpstart the sluggish unit.”
The Browns enter the bye week with a record of 2-6. After the bye, Cleveland will take on the New York Jets.
Raiders’ Pete Carroll Issues Strong Message on Tyler Lockett
The Las Vegas Raiders are back from their bye week with a familiar face for quarterback Geno Smith. Veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who played alongside Smith with the Seattle Seahawks, officially joined the team on October 27.
Lockett started the 2025 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans but requested and was granted his release on October 20.
Over his 168 games in Seattle, Lockett recorded 661 receptions for 8,594 yards and 61 touchdowns. However, his stint with the Titans fell flat, as he totaled just 10 catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns in seven games.
“High hopes for him and high hopes for us that we can make a good connection here,” Carroll said on the latest episode of “1 on 1.” “It’s a lot to ask a guy to jump in and be a regular player in a
“He’s a marvelous football player and a tremendous person; he’s one of the real natural ball players—he’s got great sense and feel and has always demonstrated that. Geno knows him really well. They’ve played together for quite some time, and there’s a chemistry between them that
“We’ll see what happens and hold out good hopes for this to help us. I’m really excited for Tyler to be with us again, in a place where people love him, know who he is and what he’s all about, and hopefully our fans will be able to see that.”
Tyler Lockett Talks Joining the Raiders
After joining the Raiders, Lockett spoke with reporters on October 27, explaining his choice to sign with the Silver and Black.
“I think it was just conversations with my agent, and, obviously, once I was able to get released and the time went by on waivers, I was able to kind of talk to [Raiders head coach Pete Carroll], and I think it was pretty cool just to have a chance to come back,
“I played with Pete for nine years, so I understand his system, I understand what he’s trying to bring to the culture, and I’m just thankful that I got another chance to be able to play for him.”
Raiders Look to Rekindle Past Connection
Lockett also spoke about the strong chemistry he shares with Smith. He noted that even though they haven’t been on the field together for some time, their connection is solid, allowing them to quickly pick up right where they left off back in Seattle.
“We grew so much just being able to play,” Lockett added. “We went through different coordinators, learned different systems, understood how to adjust our game, but still being able to
