NFL free company: What is going to the Browns do about Nick Chubb with free brokers, draft choices galore?

The Cleveland Browns are identified for having distinctive working backs. It is without doubt one of the hallmarks of their storied franchise.

Jim Brown. Kevin Mack. Ernest Byner. Bo Scott. Greg Pruitt. Bobby Mitchell. Leroy Kelly, to call just a few. Oh, and a man named Marion Motley.

Add Nick Chubb to that record.

RELATED: BROWNS GM VAGUE ABOUT NICK CHUBB’S FUTURE

The fanbase completely loves Chubb. Go to any dwelling recreation and depend the variety of #24 jerseys in attendance. It’s staggering. White jerseys, brown, orange – doesn’t matter. They’re in every single place with a daring 2-4 emblazoned back and front.

Nonetheless, the franchise goes to should decide concerning the gifted again in the course of the low season.

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Chubb, age 29, is a free agent. Meaning his contract with Cleveland is up. His cap hit in 2024 was $6.28 million regardless of solely enjoying eight video games.

He had a horrible knee harm in 2023 within the Week 2 matchup towards division foe Pittsburgh Steelers. He was later recognized with a torn MCL and a broken ACL which required surgical procedure and an intensive rehab. He landed on IR and was out of soccer from September of 2023 till he returned to motion in late October of this previous season.

When he returned to the sector towards the Cincinnati Bengals, he began the sport however had simply 11 carries. That solely gained 22 yards, however he did rating a landing.

Because the weeks rolled off the calendar, Chubb’s manufacturing was minimal. In solely three of his eight video games, he gained greater than 50 yards: 59, 52, and 50. These had been his highest outputs. Probably the most carries since returning had been 20 makes an attempt within the 24-19 win over the Steelers in Week 12. In all, he had 102 carries for 332 yards, 17 first-down conversions, and three touchdowns. He additionally had 5 receptions for 31 yards with one rating.

Chubb has at all times been a again that has achieved excessive numbers for yards after contact (YAC). His rankings: 2022 – #3 with 702 yards; 2021 – #2: 692; 2020 – #9: 512; 2019 – #2: 882; 2018 (rookie) – #4: 598. His YAC numbers for this previous season had been simply 162 yards.

Different choices

Proper now, the Browns have no idea precisely what they’ve in Chubb. They’ve seen his return to the sport, and even with a small pattern measurement, no person is impressed.

He has misplaced a little bit of velocity and that different gear that he’s well-known for as soon as he hits a niche is gone.

Jerome Ford is a good again and is sweet for a change of path, however he isn’t a star on this league. He by no means can be. He’s a complimentary again who runs exhausting and each from time to time will hit an enormous run. Pierre Robust simply could also be the perfect again of the group if given sufficient snaps to show his price. D’Onta Foreman was a stud in school however has but to translate that interval of his life to the professional recreation and most certainly received’t be retained. Nyheim Hines was signed as the first return man. Each Hines and Foreman are UFAs. Rookie Aidan Robbins was on the follow squad.

What the Browns want is a house run hitter.

2025 Free Company:

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Aaron Jones (5’-9”, 208 kilos) – Minnesota Vikings

Age: 30

40 time: 4.56

Arduous to think about changing an virtually 30-year-old again with one other the identical age, however Jones is the No 1 ranked working again on this yr’s free agent class.

He signed a one-year take care of the Vikings and had an amazing yr. He has at all times been sturdy and began all 17 video games for Minnesota this yr. He had 1,138 yards on 255 carries so he’s used to getting a number of touches in video games. His weak point is being the go-to man on the aim line as he had simply 5 touchdowns. Jones is a terrific blocker as nicely. He additionally had 51 receptions for 408 yards with two scores. Very good fingers.

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Najee Harris (6’-1”, 242 kilos) – Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 26

40 time: 4.45

So far as manufacturing, Harris has crossed the 1,000-yard barrier all 4 years in Pittsburgh gaining 4,312 yards on 1,097 carries with 28 touchdowns, 208 first-down conversions, and a 3.9 yards per carry common. He’s additionally an excellent blocker and receiver gaining 1,149 yards on 180 receptions with six scores, 60 first down conversions, and a 6.4 yards per catch common. Excessive yards after contact numbers and a very good blocker. Consistency is his finest trait.

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Rico Dowdle (5’-11”, 215 kilos) – Dallas Cowboys

Age: 26

40 time: 4.54

Productive again and sturdy. Gained 1,079 yards this yr on 235 carries with two touchdowns. Dowdle isn’t a top-tier again however had a powerful yr that ought to assist him land a multi-year deal this low season. He will get higher as the sport rolls alongside and desires the snaps, so he works finest in a run-oriented scheme. Of the three backs talked about, he can be a less expensive possibility however but had manufacturing to again up his numbers.

2025 NFL Draft:

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Spherical 1: Choose #2
Ashton Jeanty (5’-9”, 215 kilos) – Boise State

40 time: 4.42

The Browns personal the #2 in April’s draft and most certainly have a direct line for Jeanty’s abilities though taking a working again this excessive isn’t advisable. Unanimous All-American, Maxwell Award winner, Doak Walker Award recipient, and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Additionally named consecutive Mountain West Offensive Participant of the Yr honors.

He sheds tackles with ease with wonderful steadiness. He’ll end runs and is a game-breaker. Wonderful receiver with comfortable fingers, is a workhorse and is sturdy. He has occasional lapses in ball safety when combating for additional yards in site visitors.

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Spherical 3: Choose #67
Dylan Sampson (5’-11”, 201 kilos) – Tennessee

40 time: 4.35

Sampson performed in a sensational offense that featured the run. He had 1,491 yards this season and scored 22 touchdowns. Had 30 carries towards Mississippi State so he’s used to being the bellcow again. The Browns would eat up his velocity and skill to be that dynamic playmaker.

This man is a house run hitter who was a highschool monitor star.

Was named First-Staff All-SEC and earned SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr. Wonderful imaginative and prescient and anticipation to arrange blocks, press the road, and discover cutback lanes in zone working schemes. Fast research with robust work habits. Is ready to tackle a heavy workload.

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Spherical 4: Choose #103

TreVeyon Henderson (5’-10”, 210 kilos) – Ohio State

40 time: 4.4

The Browns would like to have a man like Henderson who has one other gear as soon as he bounces by a gap. Wonderful imaginative and prescient and nice lateral agility allow him to make sharp cuts with out shedding momentum. Robust man with an amazing leg drive. Will acquire good yardage after preliminary hits. Good blocker as nicely.

First Staff All-Huge 10 this yr. Performed 4 years in a troublesome convention. Had 3,712 yards on 578 carries with 42 touchdowns, 77 receptions for 853 yards and one other six scores. This yr he had a career-best 7.3 yards per carry common.

Chubb 2025?

What to do with Nick Chubb isn’t a straightforward determination. In reality, it’s downright difficult.

We as Browns followers love him. He’s the spirit of Cleveland being a tough employee, blue-collar, and by no means a prima donna. We wish him to nonetheless be on the roster and hope his enjoying days aren’t over. Accidents can have an effect on each skilled athlete and plenty of superstars have been pressured to retire from their recreation due to concussions or bodily illnesses that restricted their abilities.

What ought to the Browns do with Chubb? We wish him to retire a Cleveland Brown and can rue the day that hell no we see him in one other crew’s jersey identical to the New York Soccer Giants did with Saquon Barkley.

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And simply because his comeback didn’t have a cheerful ending in 2024 doesn’t imply he’s completed with this chapter in his life. A number of professional soccer gamers have loved comeback seasons. Why can’t Chubb in 2025?

Be ready if he doesn’t come again to the Browns this upcoming season. If he does, most certainly it is going to be with a minimal contract that’s closely laced with incentives. Then, we are going to see.

One factor Cleveland is not going to do is to signal him with none intention of enjoying him. If he inks one other deal, it is going to be to compete for a beginning place and battle for snaps. Most probably, he won’t ever be the crew’s finest offensive participant on the sector any longer. Working backs are plagued with put on and tear to not point out his coming back from a horrid knee harm that has restricted him.

And Chubb simply might not need to come again. Who is aware of? When heart J.C. Tretter was launched after which the Browns started having heart points, they known as and Tretter mentioned no thanks. He was comfortable not suiting up for a dwelling. And his being launched was not due to an absence of expertise however he was abruptly within the final yr of his contract and can be paid an excessive amount of for the middle place.

Possibly Chubb’s story is rather a lot like Saquon Barkley and is ready to discover one other spectacular season that no person noticed coming.

What do you assume the Browns ought to do with Nick Chubb? What do you assume they are going to do? Do you assume different free brokers or the NFL draft will influence that call?