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Breaking down the Browns' 2017 season, position by position. Today we're looking at Cleveland's tight ends.*
By the numbers:
Seth DeValve — 16 games, 4 starts; 33 catches, 395 yards, 1 TD
David Njoku — 16 games, 5 starts; 32 catches, 386 yards, 4 TDs
Randall Telfer — 16 games, 14 starts; 3 catches, 36 yards
How was 2017? DeValve and Njoku were ranked second and third, respectively, as the Browns' top pass catchers last season. DeValve, a fourth-round pick from Princeton in 2016, made strides after injuries slowed him down as a rookie. He made 33 catches for 395 yards and a touchdown. Njoku, meanwhile, flashed the kind of talent that led Cleveland to trade up for him in the 2017 NFL Draft. More on him in a second.
Reasons to be optimistic? Amid the team's offensive struggles, DeValve proved to be a reliable target for rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer and should continue to grow in his third season. Njoku, the former Miami standout and 29th overall pick, set a franchise record for most touchdowns (4) by a rookie tight end. The hope is he'll start to blossom after experiencing growing pains this past season. What might happen this offseason? The Browns are set to welcome back DeValve, Njoku and third-year tight end Randall Telfer, who was the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and key member of Cleveland's run game. Amid offensive staff changes, tight ends coach Greg Seamon is expected to return for his third season, meaning he'll have the chance to keep working with the talented, young trio.
