The Patriots ran into all kinds of offensive problems in Sunday's ugly 18-12 loss to the Broncos, leading to renewed talk about the possibility of them trading for some help before the Nov. 3 trade deadline.
One position in particular where they could use some help is tight end. Through five games this season, the Patriots' only production at that position has been six catches for 82 yards from Ryan Izzo.
Rookie Devin Asiasi has played 24% of the team's offensive snaps, but has yet to catch a pass. Fellow rookie Dalton Keene has been battling a neck injury and has not been able to get into a game.
One tight end who could be an option over the next couple weeks is Cleveland's David Njoku, whose name has surfaced before.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Njoku wants to be traded before the deadline. He had previously requested a trade this summer before eventually rescinding it.
Njoku was a first-round pick (29th overall) in 2017 and had his best season in 2018, when he caught 56 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns.
His last two years have been marred by injury, though. He suffered a broken wrist in Week 2 last year and wound up missing 10 games as a result. When he returned, he was barely used -- and was actually a healthy inactive twice -- and wound up finishing the lost season with just five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Njoku pretty much matched or surpassed his entire 2019 output in Week 1 of this season, when he had three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Ravens. But he also suffered a sprained knee in that game and missed the next three games.
Since returning, he has once again found himself in a limited role. In the Browns' last two games, he has played 29% and 40% of the snaps, respectively, and has been targeted just four times, resulting in two catches for 13 yards.
Austin Hooper has been Cleveland's clear No. 1 tight end, and Njoku now finds himself battling rookie Harrison Bryant for the No. 2 role. Based on Cabot's report, it seems Njoku is unhappy with the situation and wants to go somewhere he'll have a more prominent role.
Cabot reports the 4-2 Browns could use help at linebacker, safety and cornerback, or could trade Njoku for draft picks. The Patriots don't have much depth at linebacker or safety, but could potentially afford to move a corner if they like the return enough.
For what it's worth, Njoku said on Twitter shortly after Cabot's report that he never said anything to her about a trade request. However, Cabot didn't report Njoku himself told her; her report cites a league source.
