After seven seasons as a beloved member of the backfield, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is a near certainty to hit the open market.
The move comes as a sad conclusion to an impressive Browns career. Iconic running backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly are the only players in franchise history with more rushing yards and touchdowns. He’s revered by the locker room and the community, but after injuries have stripped him of most of the last two seasons, it isn’t fiscally responsible to pay him significant money.
Chubb, however, is well within his rights to look for more, and few would blame him for looking for a start outside of Cleveland.
Thus, he’ll hit the open market in search of a team willing to give him guaranteed money and a real chance at playing time. Perhaps an offseason removed from a broken foot and two years removed from his second catastrophic knee injury, Chubb will be healthy enough to rebound and parlay 2025 into another deal.
However, finding that landing spot could prove to be difficult. Teams are notoriously stingy at the running back position, and their views on aging, injured running backs border on prejudiced. As such, the Browns could still re-sign the franchise icon in free agency – it just wouldn’t be for much.
“It would be that there’s just no market for him in free agency and he comes back and pretty much plays like he did last year for the minimum,” ESPN’s Tony Grossi said.
In fairness, Chubb’s 2024 production didn’t give the Browns a reason to be first on line. His 3.3 yards per attempt were a full two yards worse than his career average entering the year. His 41.5 yards per game showcased a similar fate.
Adding to Chubb’s job insecurity is an incredibly deep draft class. That will provide teams with younger, cheaper options with cleaner bills of health and brighter days ahead, from Round 1 to the final selections of Day 3.
Cleveland could very well be in the market for a back – or two – in the NFL Draft. Replenishing the backfield will be important in helping whoever is under center in 2025.
It remains possible that Chubb returns. But his free agency outlook is bleak, and he’ll likely have to wait until after the NFL Draft to sign as a backup option.