The Cleveland Browns could soon be preparing for life without star tight end David Njoku.

Ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline, the Browns could trade some key players and get some assets back. One name that has been mentioned as a trade candidate is tight end David Njoku.

With Njoku’s name coming up in trade rumors, the Browns claimed tight end Brenden Bates off waivers and waived cornerback Jarrick Bernard Converse.

The Browns claimed Bates off waivers from the Houston Texans, and this is now his second stint with the team. Bates was with the Browns for the last few weeks of the 2024 season and into training camp, before being waived after the 53-man roster was announced.

Bates began the season on the Browns’ practice squad, but the Texans signed him to the 53-man roster on Sept. 17.

In three games with the Texans, he’s recorded 2 receptions for 23 yards. The sophomore tight end adds some more depth to the position, with Njoku’s name coming up in trade rumors.

Bates went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft after playing his college career at Kentucky.

Insider Believes Browns May Not Trade Njoku

Although Njoku is in the final year of his deal and his name has come up in trade rumors, Cleveland may not move him.

Njoku has been a key part of the Browns’ offense for years, and insider Mary Kay Cabot isn’t ruling out the team re-signing him and not trading him.

“The Browns have no intentions of trading Njoku before the deadline Nov. 4, even though his contract is up after the season,” Cabot wrote . “The Browns will probably extend Njoku before his contract is up in March, or let him test the market to help set his price.

“It seems to me that Njoku wants to finish his career here and that the Browns would like to have him back. He’s key for them in the receiving and blocking games, and still one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Having said that, if a team makes the Browns an offer, they’ll listen.”

Njoku is in the final year of his four-year, $54.75 million deal with the Browns. He’s recorded 27 receptions for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns this season.

Browns Could Make an Offensive Change After Bye

Cleveland enters its bye after another blowout loss in a game in which the offense struggled.

Although Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the team would be remaining with Dillon Gabriel as their starting quarterback.

Yet, one change that the Browns could make is Stefanski turning over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

“Last season, Stefanski turned the play-calling over to former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey after Deshaun Watson went down with his re-torn Achilles in October, but things didn’t get any better down the stretch,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wrote Monday. “Perhaps a switch to Rees, who called plays at Notre Dame, where he played quarterback, and at Alabama, might jumpstart the sluggish unit.”

The Browns enter the bye week with a record of 2-6. After the bye, Cleveland will take on the New York Jets.

Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton