Just in; Browns Predicted to Make Surprise Move With Nick Chubb
The Cleveland Browns face a decision with Nick Chubb this offseason but a potential solution has him sticking around for the foreseeable future.
Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Multiple surgeries are required and the recovery time is unknown. The Browns have said he will return next season, but it’s unclear when exactly that will be. The problem the Browns face with Chubb is his contract. He will be paid $15.8 million and the Browns will save nearly $12 million by releasing him. At one point, saying goodbye to Chubb seemed like sacrilege. However, he will turn 29 next season and will continue to suffer from injuries. But Chubb has proven time and time again that the typical running back standards don’t apply to him. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz speculates that once Chubb gets healthy, the Browns could rely on Chubb’s past form to extend him instead of parting ways. “Despite questions about his return from a knee injury, the Browns will sign Chubb to an extension that will keep him through the 2024 season, while also reducing his salary to keep the Browns under that number,” he predicted he. January 21st. “A big running back contract may surprise some of the more analytically inclined, but advanced analytics generally show Chubb as one of the few running backs who can really make a difference. (For example, he consistently exceeds expectations in NFL Next Gen Stats, leading the NFL in scoring with 597 points as of 2021.)
The Browns want Nick Chubb back next season.
Production has never been an issue for Chubb. He ran for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns in the 2022 season, his fourth consecutive season of rushing for more than 1,000 yards, and his career average of 5.3 points per game is among the NFL’s elite. Chubb is a Cleveland icon, a fan favorite who never waits for the pot. He just kept his head down and delivered at a high level. While the financial decisions aren’t easy, Browns general manager Andrew Berry plans to keep Chubb.
“In terms of Nick’s progress, I understand that’s kind of the elephant in the room,” Berry said on Jan. 22. “No one wants to see that harbor in Pittsburgh. This would be the last time he would carry the ball for the Cleveland Browns. There are certainly things we need to do, but that is not our intention. Of course we will try to keep him in the team.”
Chubb is a notorious athlete and has been aggressive about his rehab. Berry was impressed by his intelligence and attitude. “I probably came this year. Out of respect for Nick Chubb, if I were to rate him on a scale of 1 to 10, it would be a 10. I’m probably going to be 20 years old this year,” Berry said. “The way Nick works the building, you’d never guess he wasn’t there this season.”
The Browns have other decisions to make in the backfield
With Chubb likely out next season, the Browns will need to find a permanent solution in the backfield. Jerome Ford played a key role last season while Chubb was sidelined. He finished the game as the Browns’ leading rusher with 813 yards on 204 carries.
The Browns brought back Kareem Hunt shortly after Chubb’s injury. He gained 411 yards on 135 carries, averaging 3.0 yards per carry. However, it was a strong option in short range situations. In the regular season, he had a team-high nine touchdowns and scored two more in a loss to the Houston Texans. One was receiving and one was hurrying.
Hunt is set to become a free agent this offseason and his next move is unclear. He is willing to return to the Browns, but was not well received by former Browns coach Stump Mitchell, who coached him for five seasons. Mitchell questioned Hunt’s dedication to his craft and felt that Hunt had more to offer.
