With Gary Barnidge being released shortly after Njoku's arrival, the door is open for Njoku to start right away in 2017.
Njoku joins Seth DeValve, Randall Telfer as the team's only tight ends on the roster and immediately becomes the favorite to dominate snaps in 2017. DeValve caught 10 passes for 127 yards and two scores in 2016, while Telfer finished the year with just two receptions. Those lackluster performances, along with a down year from Barnidge, convinced the Browns to upgrade the position, which they absolutely did with Njoku.