Nick Chubb expected to part ways with the Browns in the upcoming weeks.
Over the next few months, the Cleveland Browns will face several challenging choices; however, none compares to their decision regarding running back Nick Chubb.
For the past six years, Chubb has shone as a prominent player in the Browns offense. The only exception was last season when he had to halt his play due to a knee injury during Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nonetheless, there is an issue with regards to Chubb’s contract which will soon come up for renewal.
During his second year, backup RB Jerome Ford performed remarkably well and is a much more affordable alternative compared to Chubb in 2024, as well as for the following year. This aligns with the Browns’ schedule on quarterback Deshaun Watson since he will incur a $64 million cap penalty over three consecutive seasons that could complicate every monetary judgment made by the team.
As a result of those circumstances, Ari Meirov from the 33rd Team has forecasted that Chubb will be let go due to salary cap constraints by Cleveland in the upcoming weeks.
The team numbered thirty-three.
On Saturday, February 24th, Meirov shared with X to not be surprised if Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon are released during the free agency period.
With four Pro Bowl recognitions under his belt, Chubb is now in the last year of a $36.6 million three-year deal. In 2024, he’ll have an impactful salary cap hit of $15.825 million; however, Cleveland may opt to cut or trade him this offseason and save up to $11.825 million as a result.
The Browns and Nick Chubb will hold a meeting to explore the possibility of restructuring his current contract.
Naturally, Cleveland aims to retain Chubb and will endeavor to accomplish this goal through contract restructuring. However, the possible obstacle is that the franchise intends to impose its own conditions which may not align with those of the running back.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, it was reported on February 22 that the Browns plan to have a meeting with Chubb’s agents, potentially during the upcoming NFL combine in Indianapolis. The purpose of this discussion is to set certain terms for a restructuring and also discuss options for an extension deal that could allow Chubb access most or all of his earnings from incentives and bonuses throughout this season.
In recent times, the NFL has significantly reduced the value of running backs. Consequently, players such as Mixon and Aaron Jones from Green Bay Packers have suffered a dip in their earnings to continue playing for their respective teams. Chubb’s performance over his first five seasons with Browns was simply outstanding as he recorded 6,341 yards and scored an impressive total of 48 touchdowns; making him arguably one of the top-notch runners across all teams during that period.
Put simply, Chubb might not be inclined towards a contract that relies heavily on incentives following his most severe injury thus far. This is due to the fact that he has already demonstrated great dedication and ability during his tenure in Cleveland. Nonetheless, an alternative scenario involving an extension granted before 2024 which reduces his cap hit while simultaneously increasing guaranteed funds for upcoming years could potentially sway him.
With the emergence of Jerome Ford, Nick Chubb lost his leverage with the Browns.
The Browns are fortunate to have Ford as their main running back in case they can’t come to terms with Chubb. While it’s great news for the team, it unfortunately weakens Chubb’s bargaining power.
Pro Football Reference reports that Ford accomplished 813 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns, averaging at a rate of 4.0 yards per try. Moreover, he showcased his capability as an all-around running back by catching 44 passes for 319 yards and scoring five times through the air.
Ford was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of 2022 and has two years left on his rookie contract, which is valued at a modest $4 million. In the event that negotiations with Chubb come to naught, there’s no reason for the Browns not to consider Ford as their top running back option while also securing a quality backup from late-round picks once again.
