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Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield completes a go to tight finish David Njoku.
The Cleveland Browns haven’t been in a position to assemble for official practices simply but, however Baker Mayfield figured he’d get a head begin on the season by inviting a few of his teammates to Texas for personal exercises.
Amongst these attending have been Browns new tight finish Austin Hooper, vast receivers Damion Ratley and Rashard Higgins, in addition to former first-round decide David Njoku.
Njoku was excited to place in some work together with his QB this summer time and was impressed with the extent of ability displayed by his teammates.
“It was nice reconnecting with everyone and seeing everyone’s faces,” Njoku mentioned in an interview of Nathan Zegura of Cleveland Browns Each day. “When it got here to the work, it was fairly spectacular to say the least. Everybody was spot on. Everybody was doing nice work. It obtained me actually excited.”
Mayfield had the same description of the exercises when he met with the media this week.
“We had 9 guys right here. It felt actually good to get round them, to begin talking the terminology and for a few of these guys to only to be round one another. I feel that was an enormous factor for Hooper to be down right here and be round among the guys,” Mayfield mentioned. “A whole lot of them have been right here final yr, nevertheless it was good for everyone to be round, talking the identical terminology and simply type of hanging out throughout all this. You’re type of caught at dwelling, however we had an opportunity to get exterior and throw just a little bit.”
Fortunately, the Browns have introduced that they set to open up their services on June 1, so extra exercises are on the horizon.
Browns TE David Njoku Feeling Higher Than Ever
GettyCleveland Browns TE David Njoku
Njoku is looking for a bounce-back yr after struggling a fractured wrist in Week 2 final season. He battled again into the lineup in Week 14, however dropped a ball that became an interception, main him to be a wholesome scratch the subsequent two weeks. He suited up for the Browns remaining sport of the season, however performed simply 4 snaps. In all, he had simply 5 catches for 41 yards and one landing final season.
What made it additional disappointing for Njoku was that he was coming off a promising second season. He primarily doubled his manufacturing within the passing sport from his rookie yr, amassing 56 catches for 639 yards and 4 touchdowns.
“That’s what I’m most enthusiastic about, simply the chance,” Njoku mentioned. “Clearly, this previous yr wasn’t all of us deliberate or had in thoughts, nevertheless it’s an awesome studying expertise. I’m very excited to return again with my teammates and provides all of it we obtained.”
Njoku — the 29th general decide within the 2017 draft — is a bodily specimen at 6-foot-Four and round 250 kilos with 4.6 40-yard sprint velocity. And he mentioned he’s solely grow to be extra athletic throughout his time within the league.
“I’ve gained eight to 10 kilos since I obtained drafted and it’s lean muscle, so I’m shifting the identical velocity, if not quicker,” Njoku mentioned.
Browns Picked up Fifth-Yr Choice for David Njoku This Offseason
GettyCleveland Browns tight finish David Njoku
The Browns bolstered the tight finish spot by way of free company and the draft. First, the crew inked Hooper to a big-money deal in free company. Hooper set profession highs final season with 75 receptions, 787 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns.
Then the crew added Harrison Bryant within the fourth spherical of the draft. Bryant performed his school ball at Florida Atlantic and is 6-foot-5 and 243 kilos. He obtained progressively higher every season with the Owls, culminating with a season season the place he collected 65 catches, 1,007 yards and 7 touchdowns. Bryant was named first crew All-Convention USA and acquired the John Mackey Award because the nation’s high tight finish final season.
It introduced up some questions on Njoku’s future in Cleveland, particularly contemplating that he was not drafted by the present regime in place. Nevertheless, the Browns exercised their fifth-year choice on Njoku this offseason, which means he has at the very least two extra season in Cleveland. Njoku will earn a base wage of $1,763,910 this coming yr, and is scheduled to earn about $6 million on the fifth yr of his deal.
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