Before 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars failed to routinely surround Trevor Lawrence with enough talent. That's one of the reasons he hadn't been able to build consistency early in his career. But a new regime took over last year and wasted no time bucking the trend, giving No. 16 new weapons and improved protection upfront.
The upgrades led to one of Lawrence's best seasons of his NFL career. He'll once again have a well-rounded supporting cast in 2026, but that doesn't mean the Jags should stop adding reinforcements to his arsenal of weapons. If possible, they shouldn't hesitate to pursue one of the top tight ends scheduled to be available in free agency.
The Jaguars must keep track of David Njoku in free agency
David Njoku announced on social media that he's ready to test free agency, noting that he's enjoyed his time with the Cleveland Browns, but it's time to move on.
A first-round pick in 2017, Njoku has been a mainstay of the Brown offense, hauling in 384 receptions for 4,062 yards with 34 touchdowns the past nine seasons. What makes his production look more impressive is that Cleveland has dealt with a revolving door at quarterback in that span.
But as dependable as Njoku is, the Browns can afford to move on from him after drafting Harold Fannin Jr. in 2025. In fact, the veteran tight end began to see a dip in playing time as the season progressed.
Why the Jaguars may ultimately pass on David Njoku
This will be a good year for teams to sign a tight end in free agency. Aside from Njoku, Cade Otton, Kyle Pitts, and Zach Ertz are also slated to be available. The Jaguars already have a pretty good one in Brenton Strange, but they could most definitely bolster the depth behind him.
Quintin Morris turned out to be a valuable free-agent pickup in 2025. He's a valuable contributor who carved a niche as a blocker but doesn't offer much as a pass-catcher. The same is true for Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt.
Now, the Jags want their tight ends to be able to block. That's a prerequisite in Liam Coen's scheme, but there was a dip in production when Strange missed time with a hip injury last year. That was mostly because Jacksonville didn't have anyone else who was able to step up in his place as one of Trevor Lawrence's targets.
With Njoku in the fold, the Jags wouldn't have that issue. In fact, they could deploy two tight-end sets. Having said that, Jacksonville could face a few roadblocks to make a run at him.
For the sake of transparency, there are no reports linking the Jags to Njoku, but if they wanted to kick the tires on him. They would need to free up space, as they're currently $13.9 million over the cap. Couple that with the fact that they have bigger priorities to address in the offseason, and Jacksonville may not be interested in the 2023 Pro Bowl nod.
David Njoku would be a huge addition to the Jaguars' arsenal, but the truth is that he would also be an unnecessary luxury.