Bryce Young’s Carolina Panthers strongly connected to $19M Cleveland Browns veteran tight end

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku’s 2025 season was marred by injuries. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. took his spot for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. However, CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell reports that when Njoku is healthy, he is a valuable middle-of-the-field and red-zone playmaker. That’s exactly where the Carolina Panthers need help.The Browns’ TE could really utilize the middle of the field for young quarterback Bryce Young. Podell reports that Carolina needs more receiving threat than Tommy Tremble has shown on tape. Tremble amassed 27 receptions for 249 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games.PFSN analyst T.J. Randall projects the Panthers to pick Oregon Ducks TE, Kenyon Sadiq. In 2025, Sadiq recorded 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 241-pounder could be the rookie TE, and Njoku could be the veteran presence for him [speculation].As opposed to Tremble, Njoku’s 2025 stats were: 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns in just 12 games. In 2024: 64 receptions for 505 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 games. When remarkably healthy and durable in 2023: 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games.ESPN’s Bill Barnwell reported that injuries took up Njoku’s playing time in 2024 and 2025. A knee injury kept him away for 10 games. His route efficiency was severely affected: after averaging 11.3 yards per catch during his three-year peak, he fell to 8.2 yards per catch over the past two seasons.From 22 catches, he came down to just five in 2024 and 2025. In the past five seasons, he also recorded the highest drop rate among TEs in the NFL [200 targets]. This could be because of the Browns’ inconsistent quarterback situation. There has been no consistent signal-caller in Cleveland.Anyhow, Barnwell picked Baltimore for Njoku, but they signed veteran tight end Durham Smythe to take up Charlie Kolar’s spot. Isaiah Likely’s spot is still open. Kolar may take that spot. They are also linked to drafting Kenyon Sadiq, the same Oregon TE with whom the Panthers are linked.If that doesn’t happen, then maybe they could sign a budget-friendly veteran behind Mark Andrews. That budget-friendly veteran could be Njoku? Anyhow, coming back to Carolina.Panthers Wire’s Anthony Rizzuti suggests that even though Carolina seems comfortable with their current TE room, it could use an upgrade in their production department.Since 2019, they have not had a single TE to record at least 500 receiving yards in a season. Greg Olson was the last one to do that. And now, Olsen’s a lead television sports commentator and analyst for FOX Sports. Anyhow, Cleveland tight end had two down years, but even in one of those, he recorded 64 receptions for 505 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. When he is healthy, his average receiving yards is typically well above 500. As per Spotrac, the 29-year-old Miami alum is projected to sign a two-year, $19 million contract, which gives him a $10 million average annual income. According to Over The Cap, Carolina has a $2.2 million in cap space.The CBS Sports analyst reports that the Browns TE will turn 30 in 2026 and has been dealing with injuries, so both entities could make him a “cost-conscious target.”Sports Illustrated’s Zach Roberts reports that Spotrac’s prediction was at the beginning of free agency; now the market has cooled off, so the veteran could sign for much less than what was predicted for him.So, would the Panthers consider a Cleveland tight end? Only time will tell…