The Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons could all be in the market for a starting tight end this offseason.

The Commanders have an uncertainty at their top spot on the depth chart in veteran Zach Ertz, who is a pending free agent and is coming off a season in which he suffered a torn ACL. There’s a possibility the 35-year-old could retire, also.

In New York, Daniel Bellinger is set to be a free agent and Theo Johnson simply wasn’t consistent enough to cement himself as the locked-in starter in 2026.

The Falcons’ top tight end, Kyle Pitts, is a pending free agent and there is no guarantee he’s going to return, especially given his status as the top tight end available.

With all three teams possibly looking for an addition at tight end, CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin listed them as possible landing spots for Cleveland Browns tight end and pending free agent, David Njoku.

“The Falcons could lose Pitts this offseason after he spent five years in Atlanta, and they’ll need to replace him if he does leave. New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is very familiar with Njoku from their time together in Cleveland,” Dubin wrote. “The Falcons don’t have a player like Harold Fannin Jr. ready to take over as a high-level option like Cleveland did this past year, so Njoku could make a lot of sense for them.”

“Washington lost Zach Ertz to a torn ACL toward the end of the 2025 season, and needs a pass-catching tight end to replace him. John Bates is more of a blocker and 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott has failed to distinguish himself as a receiving option through his first two seasons. If the Commies decide they need to look outside the building in free agency, Njoku could be a strong option,” he said of Washington.

“New York has some interesting weapons on hand to help Jaxson Dart. Malik Nabers is an elite option when healthy. Cam Skattebo looks like a good running back and makes for a nice pair with Tyrone Tracy. If the Giants can bring Wan’Dale Robinson back, they’ll also have a good slot option. But the pickings at tight end are fairly slim. Having someone like Njoku to stretch the seam and create yards after the catch would be nice,” Dubin said of Njoku to the Giants.

Njoku played out the final year of his $54 million contract with the Browns in 2025 and has made it clear he’s looking for a new home in 2026 after posting a farewell message to fans recently.

Njoku is coming off a season in which he posted just 293 yards in 12 games.

That was hardly his fault, though, as the Browns had a disastrous situation at quarterback the entire season, an all-too-familiar theme for Njoku’s career.

The bigger concern for teams interested in his services is the fact that Njoku has been a regular on the injury report during his career and has missed a total of 11 games over the past two seasons. Now, he’s set to turn 30 in July.

When healthy, Njoku is no doubt an impact pass-catcher who thrives between the 20s and in the red zone. He’s also a strong blocker, so he can be relied upon in all situations.

Quite honestly, we love the idea of Njoku joining any one of these three teams, as he’s an ideal target for young quarterbacks who need a safety valve in the passing game.

Because of Johnson’s presence, we would say the Giants are the least likely team to spring for Njoku, although it’s certainly not out of the question if New York isn’t convinced Johnson is a good enough starter.

We would not rule out the Falcons bringing Pitts back, but if not Njoku would be a solid replacement as a bridge option to hold Atlanta over at the position for one season. The Stefanski connection only increases the odds.

But, ultimately, we think the Commanders are the most likely landing spot. With so many questions surrounding Ertz, we believe Washington will go in a different direction and Njoku would be a fantastic option to replace him.

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