Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku has expressed excitement at escaping the trade window and remaining with the Browns. The 29-year-old was the subject of several trade rumors and only found out he wasn’t being traded after the deadline passed on Tuesday.

The 2017 first-round pick excitedly declared his loyalty to the Browns on Wednesday while addressing the press. He said:

“I’m so happy I’m here. Of course, it’s always a possibility. This is the NFL, man. But I’m in Cleveland, baby. I’m not going nowhere. I’m not f*cking leaving.”

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

Njoku and the rest of the Browns’ offense have been having a troubled campaign this season. Still, the tight end has recorded 27 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns. However, performance is not the only reason for the trade rumors that surrounded the veteran.

Like multiple other Browns players, David Njoku’s contract with the Browns will run out at the end of the ongoing campaign. As such, the decision to not trade him is being seen by many, including the player himself, as a move towards retaining him long-term.

Has David Njoku started contract talks with the Browns?

Asked if contract negotiations between him and the Browns have commenced yet, Njoku winked and said:

“I can’t say.”

However, he did maintain his desire to remain with the Browns well beyond this season. Njoku hasn’t always been so eager about remaining at Cleveland. The tight end once put in a trade request ahead of the 2020 season. But it ended up being a brief moment of doubt in a long, dedicated career with the franchise.

Njoku signed a contract extension with the Browns in 2022 that was worth $56.75 million. With the extension running out this season, the tight end is seeing another shared future with the franchise.

David Njoku has transformed into a fan favorite in Cleveland over the years, forging productive connections with quarterback after quarterback. With two rookie quarterbacks at the heart of the Browns’ offense, veterans like Njoku are needed to stabilize the offense.

The Browns face a fellow struggling side, the New York Jets, on Sunday as they hope to redirect the course of their season. One of the burning questions as Cleveland starts the rest of its season is when rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders gets a playing opportunity.

The Browns’ clash with the Jets is set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.