Source: Cleveland Browns use franchise tag on TE David Njoku

The Cleveland Browns have placed the franchise tag on tight end David Njoku, a league source told ESPN.

Njoku totaled 148 receptions in five seasons with the Browns, including 36 for 475 yards and four touchdowns last season.

His best season came during quarterback Baker Mayfield's rookie year in 2018, when he hauled in a career-best 56 catches for 639 yards. After being targeted 88 times that year, Njoku's production has rapidly decreased over the last three seasons.

In the summer of 2020, Njoku, who turns 26 in July, changed agents and requested a trade from Cleveland. But after the beginning of training camp, he rescinded the request.

Njoku, who was selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Browns, was paid $6.01 million last season after the team exercised his fifth-year option.