David Njoku is a perfect fit for Mike McDaniel's Chargers offense, by design
The new Chargers OC built his Miami passing game around YAC-first tight ends. Njoku is fifth among NFL tight ends in YAC since 2022.
Mike McDaniel left Miami in January and joined the Chargers as offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh in February. The same week, the Chargers signed David Njoku to a one-year deal worth up to $8 million. The timing was not a coincidence. Njoku is the prototype of the tight end McDaniel's offense has produced career years from for the past four seasons.
What does McDaniel do with tight ends?
He gets them the ball after the catch. From 2022 to 2025, McDaniel's tight ends in Miami averaged 5.3 yards after the catch per reception, sixth-most in the NFL. The offense uses motion to create matchup advantages, then layers route concepts that put tight ends on linebackers in space. Njoku averaged 1,478 yards after the catch across those same four years, fifth-most among NFL tight ends.
Why is Njoku specifically a fit?
Three reasons. He runs 4.64 at 6'4" and 246 pounds, which is rare athletic ability for the position. He has 27 broken tackles since 2022 (third among TEs). And he's a credible inline blocker, which McDaniel needs because his run-game design relies on tight ends sealing the edge on outside-zone runs. Most YAC-creating tight ends are slot-only types; Njoku is both.
Where does he line up?
Everywhere. McDaniel uses two-TE personnel groupings at one of the highest rates in the league. The Chargers' depth chart now reads Njoku, Oronde Gadsden II (the 2025 rookie) and Charlie Kolar (the blocking specialist signed from Indianapolis). McDaniel can run any combination of those three on the field at the same time. Njoku is the alpha receiver in the room. Gadsden is the move TE. Kolar is the inline blocker.
What does this do to the WR room?
Reduces touch volume for the receivers. Ladd McConkey remains the WR1 in the slot. Quentin Johnston gets the X spot. Tre Harris (the 2026 second-round pick) competes for the third role. The two-TE personnel makes it harder for opposing defenses to predict whether the Chargers are running or passing, which lifts the entire passing game even if the individual receivers see slightly fewer targets.
What's Njoku's realistic production?
60 to 75 catches, 700 to 850 yards, 6 to 8 TDs. The Browns target volume that Njoku had in 2024 (his 64-catch, 505-yard career line) was the floor; McDaniel's offense should push him into a 750+ yard range. He's 30 in July and on a one-year deal. If 2026 works, he extends. If it doesn't, the Chargers move on without long-term cap commitment.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Where will David Njoku fit in Mike McDaniel's offense
- Sports Illustrated: The schematic reason McDaniel prioritized Njoku
- NFL.com: Chargers agree to terms with TE David Njoku
- Chargers: David Njoku press conference
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