Trade Pitch Brings Buccaneers $56 Million Pro Bowler
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may very well have their roster set in stone for the rest of the season. It’s tough to argue with a 6-2 start that’s happened with star players missing on both sides of the ball for extended periods of time.
If you’re a head coach or general manager, you have to see that kind of competitiveness and toughness and be loathe to mess with the chemistry that comes with it.
But are the Buccaneers a Super Bowl contender? That’s a little more debatable. More likely than not, they’re probably only going to get to that level with a little help.
Heavy’s Max Dible thinks that help could come from a trade with the Cleveland Browns for Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku in exchange for a 2026 Day 3 draft pick.
“David Njoku is a competent tight end who can help a high-octane offense in Tampa Bay that needs some more pass-catching due to a handful of injuries to some of its top options, including Mike Evans and Chris Godwin,” Dible said. “The Browns are 2-6 and drafted Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round, who looks like a hit. Njoku probably isn’t coming back after he becomes a free agent next year, so getting a fifth-round pick, or the like, for him now makes more sense than letting him walk for nothing — especially since keeping Njoku for the rest of this season isn’t likely to change Cleveland’s fate.”
Former First Round Pick on Awful Teams
Njoku, 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, only played 2 seasons at the University of Miami and left school early for the NFL after putting up 43 receptions for 698 yards and 8 touchdowns in 12 games in 2016.
The Browns selected Njoku at No. 29 overall in the 2017 NFL draft — one of 3 tight ends picked in the first round. Njoku became a full time starter in his second season with 56 receptions for 639 yards and 4 touchdowns. He battled injuries in 2019 and 2020, missing 16 games, but bounced back in 2021 with 36 receptions for 375 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Njoku has had at least 50 receptions, 500 yards and 4 touchdowns in each of the last 3 years and had a career year in 2023 with 81 receptions for 882 yards and 6 touchdowns while earning his only Pro Bowl nod.
While Njoku has gotten super duper paid by the Browns — he’ll have approximately $70.4 million in career earnings after 2025 — what that money hasn’t bought is wins.
In 8 NFL seasons with Njoku, the Browns have had just 2 winning seasons — also their only 2 playoff appearances in that stretch — and even went winless in 2017 with an 0-16 record.
Buccaneers Already Have Reliable TE Option
Otton has been one of Tampa Bay’s most consistent targets for Mayfield in the last 2 seasons, including a breakout year in 2024 with career highs of 59 receptions for 600 yards and 4 touchdowns in just 14 games.
Like Njoku, Otton is also playing for big money. While Njoku is in the final season of a 4-year, $56.75 million contract, Otton is in the final year of a 4-year, $4.49 million contract and in line for a lucrative free agent contract following the season — if not sooner.
Von Miller Declares: “I Choose to Rise — And I Want My Team to Rise With Me!”
In the world of football, true leadership is not about words—it’s about resilience. For veteran linebacker
"When you fall, you have two choices: stay down or rise stronger. I choose to rise—and I want the entire team to rise with me. We’ve come too far to stop now."
This quote isn’t just motivation—it’s a declaration of intent. Miller has never been one to shy away from adversity. Whether it’s battling back from injury or adapting to a new defensive system, his determination remains unshakable. Now, as the Washington Commanders work to reclaim momentum midseason, Miller’s leadership is exactly what the locker room needs.
A Veteran Voice with a Champion’s Mentality
Von Miller’s presence alone brings a certain gravity to the Commanders’ defense. The two-time Super Bowl champion and former MVP understands the cost of greatness—pain, sacrifice, and persistence. His fiery statement this week came after a team meeting that insiders described as “emotional but necessary.” According to reports, Miller challenged his teammates to hold each other accountable and to “find that hunger again.”
“Von has seen it all,” one Commanders insider revealed. “When he speaks, the room listens. He’s not just trying to motivate; he’s trying to transform the mindset of this team.”
Turning Setbacks into Motivation
The Commanders have faced their share of struggles this season, from inconsistent performances to defensive breakdowns. But Miller refuses to see failure as final. Instead, he views every loss as a lesson—a mindset that’s infectious in the locker room. “The hardest moments create the strongest teams,” Miller said earlier this week. “We’re still writing our story, and the best chapters are yet to come.”
His words seem to have reignited a spark among younger players, particularly in the defensive unit. Many have credited Miller with setting the tone during practice sessions—demanding effort, precision, and passion on every snap.
Eyes on Redemption
As the Commanders prepare for their next matchup, Miller’s message looms large: rise, don’t retreat. His confidence in the team’s ability to turn things around is unwavering. “You can’t teach heart,” Miller emphasized. “You either have it, or you don’t—and I know this team has it.”
The Commanders’ journey this season is far from over, but with Von Miller leading by example, they’re fighting with renewed purpose and belief. Every challenge is just another chance to rise stronger.
