After it was reported that the Cleveland Browns' David Njoku had requested a trade Friday, it didn't take long for some writers to speculate about some potential trade partners for the tight end.
And it didn't take long for the Arizona Cardinals to be included in some of that speculation.
Arizona currently has Maxx Williams and Dan Arnold as its most experienced tight ends and adding Njoku to the lineup would potentially make Arizona's passing game even more explosive after the team traded for DeAndre Hopkins.
Njoku, who turns 24 next Friday, was the No. 29 overall pick out of Miami in the 2017 NFL draft.
He had 56 catches for 639 yards and four touchdowns in 2018, but he played in just four games last season after being sidelined by a wrist injury. He was a healthy scratch, however, in Weeks 15 and 16.
The Browns signed Austin Hooper to a four-year, $42 million contract in March, making him the highest-paid tight end on a multiyear deal.
The team also selected Florida Atlantic's Harrison Bryant in the fourth round of April's NFL draft.
Would Njoku be a good fit with the Cardinals? Some NFL writers weighed in after the tight end's reported trade demand.
CBS Sports' Jared Dubin listed eight potential trade destinations for Njoku and he had the Cardinals ranked No. 1, calling Arizona "the most intriguing fit."
He wrote: "This is my pick for the most intriguing fit. The Cardinals love spreading the field with as many perimeter threats as possible, opening up wider lanes to both throw and run. They had some difficulty doing that early last season but found more success later on. Adding DeAndre Hopkins should open things up even more in 2020, and adding Njoku would take that up another level. Giving Kyler Murray another explosive target would help make sure he takes the step forward that many are predicting for him this coming season."
MORE: NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals will be 'must-see TV' in 2020 season
Dubin also listed the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans as potential options for Njoku.
Fansided's Dawg Pound Daily had the Cardinals listed among five teams who could call the Browns about Njoku.
The site also included the Panthers, Patriots, Bengals and Redskins.
Dan Justik wrote: "With Kliff Kingsbury leading the way in Arizona, Njoku seems to be a perfect fit for what Kingsbury wants the Cardinals offense to resemble. After showcasing the Air Raid offense at Texas Tech and showing great potential in the NFL, Njoku could be a missing link for Kingsbury's offense. Kingsbury's offense showcases several playmakers on the perimeter, spreading the field and causing the defense to open up throwing and running lanes all over the field. Adding an uber-athletic tight end like Njoku will help with spreading the defense out. The Arizona offense does not need a traditional in-line tight end who is a strong blocker. Instead, Kingsbury would prefer to have a pass catching tight end who can be a mismatch for whoever he is lined up against. Kingsbury relied on his tight ends often in 2019 as he did not yet have the playmakers he need at wide receiver. In 2020, the Cardinals top two tight ends are expected to be Maxx Williams and Dan Arnold. Williams is a solid blend of a traditional tight end who can also be a solid receiver. Arnold was a midseason pickup who quickly acclimated to the Cardinals offense. Njoku is more of a dynamic tight end compared to Williams and Arnold, and he would be another explosive target for the Cardinals, giving Kyler Murray the potential of a big play target in the middle of the field. Njoku in the middle of the field with the explosive burst to outrun linebackers and safeties could be exactly what Murray and Kingsbury need in their offense."
Some reporters on social media talked about Njoku's potential fit in Arizona:
USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz contributed to this story.
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