BEREA: David Njoku is only 20 years old, but the Browns have made it clear they’ll lean on him and other young players to handle the tight end position.
After trading up to select Njoku 29th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Browns cut former Pro Bowl tight end Gary Barnidge on Friday.
“I’m going to do the same thing I would do even if he was here,” Njoku said Friday during an introductory news conference. “That’s just compete, just work really hard, and it’ll be all right.”
Njoku compiled 64 catches for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons at the University of Miami before entering the draft as a redshirt sophomore.