Backup RB Jerome Ford performed admirably during his sophomore season and is a significantly less expensive option than Chubb in 2024 and for at least one year beyond. That is roughly consistent with the Browns’ timeline for quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will have a $64 million salary cost in each of the following three seasons, complicating every financial choice the team must make.
Because of these realities, Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team predicted Chubb would be a wage cap casualty for the Browns in the coming weeks.
“Don’t be surprised if Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon are cut as we enter free agency,” Meirov wrote to X on Saturday, February 24.
Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler, is entering his final season on a three-year contract worth $36.6 million. His salary budget cost in 2024 is $15.825 million, and the Browns may save $11.825 million by releasing or moving him this offseason.
Nick Chubb and Browns Will Meet to Discuss Potential Contract Restructure.
Cleveland obviously wants to keep Chubb and will try to do so by altering his deal. The potential difficulty is that the franchise will want to do so on its own terms, which the running back may not accept.
“The Browns will meet with Chubb’s agents, possibly as soon as the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week, and discuss parameters for a restructuring — and possible extension — that will enable Chubb to make most or all of the money he’s due this season via incentives and bonuses,” Mary Kay Cabot, editor-in-chief of Cleveland.com,
In recent years, the NFL has severely devalued the running back position, and players such as Mixon and Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers have accepted salary cuts to stay with their teams. During his first five seasons with the Browns, Chubb carried for 6,341 yards and 48 touchdowns, making him arguably the league’s top running back.
All of this to indicate that Chubb may be unwilling to sign an incentive-laden contract after suffering his worst injury of his career, given everything he has already contributed/proven in Cleveland. An agreement that reduces his cap hit in 2024 while still providing him with significantly more guaranteed money over the next few years, on the other hand, could be a different story.
Jerome Ford’s Emergence Robbed Nick Chubb of his leverage with the Browns.
Fortunately for the Browns, if they can’t reach an arrangement with Chubb, they can fall back on Ford as their primary running back. As wonderful as that is for the club, it’s also negative for Chubb’s negotiating position.
According to Pro Football Reference, Ford ran for 813 yards and four touchdowns at an average of 4.0 yards per attempt. In addition, he caught 44 receptions for 319 yards and five touchdowns, demonstrating his versatility as a back.
Cleveland selected Ford in the fifth round in 2022. He still has two years left on a rookie contract worth only $4 million. If the Browns are unable to reach an agreement with Chubb, there is no reason why they should not believe they can transition to Ford as RB1 and then find value in the late rounds to give him a reliable backup.
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