The Cleveland Browns may have lost their best wide receiver in the Amari Cooper trade, but their best offensive player Nick Chubb should be back on the field before long. A second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Chubb started his career behind veteran Carlos Hyde before earning the starting job midway through his rookie season. The Georgia product never looked back, establishing himself as one of the game’s elite running backs while earning four Pro Bowls selections.
Chubbs’ 2023 season ended before it truly began, as the veteran suffered a gruesome knee injury midway through Week 2. Now set to make his return, it might not be long before the Browns trade Nick Chubb to the highest bidder. Sitting at 1-5 and stuck with Deshaun Watson’s contract for three more years, keeping Chubb might not be in the best long-term interest of the team. Running back isn’t the most valuable position in football, but a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or the Los Angeles Chargers could give up a pick for his services.
Browns RB Nick Chubb, who is set to return Sunday following last season’s devastating knee injury, in the @PlayersTribune: pic.twitter.com/HADInKTG65
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 16, 2024
1-5 Browns Could Trade Nick Chubb to Chiefs, Chargers
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting by without Isiah Pacheco, as former Brown Kareem Hunt has turned the clock back to 2017. While it’s an admittedly small sample, the 29-year-old running back looks like his old self in Kansas City, recording 41 carries for 171 yards and one touchdown through two games. Maybe he can keep this up for an entire season, but Hunt struggled last year when filling in for Chubb. Perhaps the Chiefs are a better scheme fit, or perhaps Hunt will slow down as he gets more carries. Either way, the Chiefs need more running back depth and could consider a Nick Chubb trade.
Undrafted free agent Carson Steele had a promising preseason, but that success has not translated to the regular season. Perhaps he can be a valuable player in the future, but he’s not ready to play a sizable role on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Samaje Perine is just a receiving back at this stage in his career, and first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a glorified journeyman. If he can come anywhere close to recapturing his old form, Nick Chubb would be the best running back on this roster, and Kansas City could trade a late-round pick to secure their backfield for yet another playoff run.
Jim Harbaugh’s Vision
Anyone who has even passively followed Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career knows he loves to run the football. This trend has continued with the Los Angeles Chargers, as the former Michigan champion brought his team to 3-2 thanks to a strong defense and a run-heavy attack. While they probably won’t win the AFC West, Los Angeles should be in the Wild Card hunt, especially since Justin Herbert is healthy again. However, if they plan on winning Harbaugh’s way, they must trade for someone like Nick Chubb.
Former Raven J.K. Dobbins has been a pleasant surprise, as the running back overcame his 2023 Achilles injury to post 438 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries (5.4 yards per attempt). Free agent signee Gus Edwards, meanwhile, was a disappointment even before landing on the injured reserve. With Edwards down and Dobbins’ long history of injuries, the Chargers must add a more reliable presence to this backfield. Nick Chubb needs to prove he can still play before the Chargers trade for him, but his aggressive, north-south style of running is a perfect match for Jim Harbaugh.
Main Photo: Peter Casey – USA Today Sports
