For all the talk surrounding the improvement of Deshaun Watson and their receivers’ room, everyone in Cleveland (and pretty much the American football world) knows that the team’s offense runs through one man. That’s Number 24 in your programs, number 1 in your hearts, Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb. Chubb is the kind of Browns RB that makes everyone in Northeast Ohio remember the big backs of yesteryear. Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Kevin Mack… even Mr. One Year Wonder and Madden cover boy himself, Peyton Hillis. Chubb owns a ridiculous 5.2 yards per carry average in his NFL career. He also shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
But who will step in if he’s forced to miss significant time?
Browns RB Nick Chubb Needs an Understudy. Who Will It Be?
The Browns RB Room is Incomplete
Problem is, nothing can derail an NFL season faster than losing the one part of the team that everyone counts on more than any other. The NFL is a rough game – in fact, an astounding 44% of NFL players will miss at least one game with injury each year. For running backs, players who play their teams’ entire seasons – as Chubb did in 2022 – have only a 50% chance of doing so again the following year.
It’s tough to be an NFL RB these days. Chubb is expected to get 20-25 touches for the Browns this season. That means 20-25 tackles per game. 20-25 times that a 350-pound defensive lineman who will accelerate at a rate just short of a Tesla in Insane Mode crashing into his body.
So the question becomes – who will step up and lead the Browns RBs if Chubb is unable to go?
What Happened to Browns RB Kareem Hunt?
In years past, the answer was easy – Kareem Hunt. Among Browns RBs, Hunt was considered the RB-1B to Chubb’s 1A, someone who could step in and the offense wouldn’t miss a beat.
But Hunt’s contract expired this year, and the Browns opted not to renew it, thinking his speed is slipping. Which would’ve been reasonable, except that the third strong Browns RB, D’Ernest Johnson – signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Combined with their lack of draft picks thanks to the Watson and Elijah Moore trades, that leaves the Browns with precious few options already on the roster.
In-House Options
Next man up in the Browns RB room is 2022 fifth-round pick Jerome Ford. Ford has all of eight carries to his credit – and not a single reception. Behind him is Demetric Felton, a converted wide receiver with one carry for a loss of four years in 2022.
With $16.9 million still available under the cap, the Browns seem poised to add another horse to the stable sometime before training camp starts. There’s more than enough to add an understudy for Chubb. Even if there’s any truth to the rumor that the Browns aren’t all the way out on adding former Watson teammate and five time All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins.
The question remains: Who?
Current Free Agents
Fortunately for the Browns, 2023 free agency has been hard on running backs. The list of available RBs looks like an old fantasy football roster. The likes of Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Ezekiel Elliott and Kenyan Drake still remain available.
The most intriguing name to replace former Browns RB Hunt is Fournette. His skills as a runner have diminished – he’s ping-ponged back and forth between just over and under 4 YPC the last four years. But most importantly, he’d step right in as the team’s top pass catching back. Fournette had 142 receptions over the last two seasons lining up behind Tom Brady. He was a salary cap casualty of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who were $56 million over the cap in March.
However, Playoff Lenny isn’t at the top of anyone’s list for locker room character and has been known to not handle sharing all that well. While he’s going to have to take a back seat to someone if he wants to play in 2023, memories of high talent but difficult personalities like Odell Beckham Jr, Baker Mayfield and Jadeveon Clowney are still fresh on everyone’s minds on Lake Erie.
A Role Player in the Offing?
A less expensive role player might seem like the better choice for the Browns RB room. Particularly if the team is serious about making a late run at Hopkins.
Of the bunch, Drake would appear to be the best of the mix. Consistently undervalued, the 29 year old Drake owns a career 4.5 yard rushing average. He’s caught as high as 53 passes in a season. He’s always been in crowded backfields, and seldom the RB1. He likely isn’t more than a 1-2 year bandaid, but that’s more than enough time for current Browns RBs Ford and Felton to mature. Or at least for the team to grab someone earlier in the 2024 draft.
Another option recently linked to the Browns is former Falcon, Seahawk, Lion and most recently Commander RB J.D. McKissic. McKissic was one of the top pass catchers in the league in 2020 with 80 receptions in DC. However, McKissic has been oft injured since. He missed the entire back half of 2022 with a neck injury.
Whether it’s Fournette, Drake, McKissic or someone else, what’s clear is that Cleveland will likely see a newly minted Browns RB before the season begins.
The question is… who?
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
