The Cleveland Browns are facing a critical offseason, and the future of their star running back, Nick Chubb, is uncertain. The harsh realities of NFL economics, particularly for running backs, are casting a shadow over Chubb’s undeniable value to the franchise.
Chubb’s recent history has been marred by a significant knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which required surgeries on both his ACL and MCL. Browns general manager Andrew Berry has acknowledged the elephant in the room: Chubb’s contract. While he will count $15.8 million against the cap next season, he has no guaranteed money left on his deal. Releasing Chubb would result in just $4 million of dead cap.
The Browns have several options regarding Chubb, including extending his contract to lower the cap hit for the coming year. However, ESPN’s Dan Graziano sees Chubb as a potential cap casualty due to his age, injury, and contract status.
Despite these challenges, the Browns want to keep Chubb. He has been a standout player since joining the team in 2018, rushing for 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns in six seasons. His career 5.3 yards per carry is among the league’s best. Berry has expressed the organization’s desire to work with Chubb this offseason to find a way forward.
Kareem Hunt, who stepped up in Chubb’s absence, is expected to test free agency. He was signed by the Browns after Chubb’s injury and finished the season with 411 yards on 135 carries, averaging 3.0 yards per carry. Hunt excelled in short-yardage situations, scoring a team-high nine rushing touchdowns. Despite this, the Browns are likely to let him explore other options in free agency.
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