Will the beloved running back find himself playing for another team?
There is no bigger free agent name on the Cleveland Browns this offseason than running back Nick Chubb.
How and When They Joined the Browns
Chubb was a second-round pick by the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft, initially playing behind veteran running backs Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson. In 2021, Chubb signed a three-year, $36.6 million extension with the Browns.
Productivity Level Last Season
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Chubb had a long road back when he tore his MCL and damaged his ACL in a Week 2 game of the 2023 season. He started the 2024 season on the physically unable to perform list, and then finally made his return on October 20 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It was inspiring to see Chubb back on the field. In what was a down season, though, fans faced the predicament of hoping he would return to his old form and provide a jolt to the struggling offense, while also being understanding of the fact that he was coming off of major surgeries. More times than not, it just ended up being a bit of a downer seeing Chubb in action last season. We were used to him being the best-of-the-best for years — an unstoppable force. And now, each week, he looked like a pedestrian running back who would be a below average player.
He finished the 2024 season with 102 carries for 332 yards (3.3 YPC), after he averaged 5.0+ YPC in every season before that. Chubb had 3 rushing touchdowns, and added 5 catches for 31 yards and 1 touchdown. He also fumbled the ball once. Adding to the deflating season was the fact that in Week 15, he exited early, and it was revealed that he suffered a broken foot, ending his season early again.
What the Browns Should Do
I would love Chubb back in a Browns uniform, but there are a lot of factors in play here. The shelf life for running backs can sometimes see them hit a wall to where they lost the step that made them special. Chubb, in his lifetime, has now had two major knee surgeries, and most people may not even be able to come back from one of them. With what we saw last season, is that the best that Chubb can be now? Or did he just need more time to get back to his former, dominant self? If that’s what Chubb is now, then he doesn’t look like an NFL-caliber running back any more.
Fans will argue that Chubb is the heart and soul of the team, and after everything he went through for recovery, the team needs to keep him. However, the Browns already used that feel-good story as the reason for keeping him last offseason as opposed to cutting him. At the NFL Combine, GM Andrew Berry indicated that Chubb is likely to test free agency, but that they’ll remain in contact with him.
What type of contract will Chubb command? Again, you’re in a predicament where, if he was “the old Nick Chubb,” then he would be in line for one more massive contract to make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league. No one is going to do that based on his performance last year, coupled with the fact that he’s coming off of a broken foot too. From Chubb’s perspective, he might have to settle for the best “prove it” deal, which is several million dollars, coupled with incentives. It’s the type of thing where he’d hope that, if he performed well, a team would negotiate an extension during the season.
Let us know below whether or not you think the Browns should re-sign Nick Chubb.