Browns General Manager Teases Nick Chubb’s Future: “There’s an elephant in the room”
In the next months, the Cleveland Browns will have to make some tough choices, such as what to do with running back Nick Chubb once his costly contract expires.
In a Monday, January 22, media meeting, general manager Andrew Berry spoke about the future of the team’s four-time Pro Bowl player, Chubb, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.
Berry said, “Berry on Chubb: I understand that’s a little bit the elephant in the room,” according to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson. “Nobody wants to see the last carry he makes for the Browns being the one in Pittsburgh. We want to have him on the squad, but there are issues to resolve.
According to Browns Zone’s Scott Petrak, Berry’s regard for Chubb “went from 10 to 20 this year.” The general manager did, however, also discuss the team’s upcoming “tough decisions,” which most likely have to do with the squad.
“All decisions going forward will be with the goal of bringing [first] Super Bowl to Cleveland,” stated Petrak in reference to Browns general manager Andrew Berry. “Those decisions can be challenging at times.”
If the Browns trade or cut Nick Chubb over the offseason, they may save around $12 million.
Chubb is in the last year of a three-year, $36.6 million deal that will expire in 2024. He will be 28 years old at the start of the following season. Unfortunately for the running back, the Browns may save almost $11.8 million this summer by releasing or moving Chubb, who just recovered from a knee ailment that needed two surgeries to heal.
On January 16, the Scouting Department of Bleacher Report identified Chubb Cleveland as the most probable victim of the salary cap in 2024 because to those factors.
“During his six years with the club, Nick Chubb has been a real asset and a fan favourite,” BR said. “Yet, it’s difficult to pay top dollar for a running back who is approaching the age at which many backs start to deteriorate and who is recovering from an injury that could end his career.”
In the event that the organisation chooses to move on, Chubb should be able to find a suitor interested in him. He qualified for the Pro Bowl four times in a row from 2019 to 22; the severity and timing of his injury prevented him from earning the distinction during either of his rookie or 2023 seasons. During his six-year NFL career, he has made 77 appearances (70 starts) and carried for 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. For the Browns, Chubb has also caught 123 catches for 1,011 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Jerome Ford’s Breakout Sophomore Season Makes Parting Ways with Nick Chubb Easier Call for Browns
Although it serves no useful purpose for Chubb, Jerome Ford’s stellar sophomore year gives Cleveland power in any future contract disputes.
In 17 games and 12 starts in 2023, Ford accumulated 813 running yards and 4 touchdowns on 204 runs (four yards per attempt). Moreover, he caught 44 passes for 319 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Ford was a rookie who lined up behind Kareem Hunt and Chubb. Following Hunt’s departure, the Browns moved Ford up to the backup position during the summer. In the wake of Chubb’s knee injury in Week 2, he was named the starter.
In the end, Cleveland welcomed Hunt back, although in a supporting position to Ford, which he played out the rest of the campaign. Ford is still bound to his four-year, $4 million rookie contract for the next two years, while Hunt is now a free agent.
For Heavy.com, Max Dible covers the Golden State Warriors, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Cleveland Browns. Before joining Heavy, he worked as the news director for Pacific Media Group’s chain of Big Island radio stations as well as a reporter for West Hawaii Today, covering both local and state news. He also worked as the news director for BigIslandNow.com. Additional information on Max Dible
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