NFL Draft: Cedar Grove's Njoku picked 29th overall by Browns
If you liked the look of David Njoku wearing orange, you're in luck.
The Cleveland Browns, selecting for the third time in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, took Cedar Grove's own and Miami tight end David Njoku with the 29th overall pick.
The Browns were the busiest team in the first round, starting the night off by selecting Texas A&M's Myles Garrett with the first overall pick. Cleveland also was slated to pick 12th - acquired from Philadelphia last year in the Carson Wentz trade - but the Browns dealt that pick away.
The Browns traded the 12th pick to Houston and moved down to No. 25, selecting Michigan standout and fellow North Jersey talent Jabrill Peppers.
Cleveland appeared to be done for the night and preparing for Friday's second round. Instead, the Browns dealt themselves back into the first round, trading that second-round pick and a fourth-round pick, numbers 33 and 108 overall, in order to select the 20-year-old Njoku.
The selection adds another chapter to the pedigree of Miami tight ends and early draft selections. Njoku joins Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow Jr. and Greg Olsen as Miami tight ends selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2000. Njoku also becomes the first tight end drafted in the first round by Cleveland since Winslow was picked sixth overall in 2004.
Njoku was the third tight end off the board after Alabama's O.J. Howard was selected 19th by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Giants used their 23rd overall selection to take Evan Engram of Ole Miss. Njoku was linked in recent mock drafts to both teams.
In analysis of the pick, USA Today's Nate Davis said Njoku "could be next in a long line of great 'Canes tight ends." Davis also said Njoku "makes splash plays all over the field and will outrun most linebackers and plenty of safeties."
Njoku enjoyed success in football and on the track at Cedar Grove. His younger brother, Evidence Njoku, enjoyed success at Cedar Grove as well until transferring to Wayne Hills this year. Evidence is following in his brother's footsteps after signing a letter of intent to play college football at Miami.
