The Cleveland Browns might lose Nick Chubb this offseason by way of cutting him for salary cap purposes. But even if they don't, there is still a high chance the running back leaves in 2025.
The issue for the Browns and Chubb comes down to money. The four-time Pro Bowler is coming off of a devastating knee injury that cut his sixth NFL campaign by 14-plus games. He's entering the final season of a three-year, $36.6 million contract in 2024 that carries a salary cap hit north of $15.8 million.
The value Chubb’s deal represents is significantly higher than many teams are spending on their top two or three running backs in the modern NFL, and if Chubb has a bounce back season in 2024, he’s going to command another sizable contract.
“Despite [his] consistency, much of Chubb’s free agency value will be tied to how he fares after his knee injury,” Alex Kay of Bleacher Report wrote on Tuesday, March 26 in an article predicting players who might “reset the free agent market” at their positions in 2025. “If he’s able to quickly shake off the rust and prove that a pair of knee surgeries hasn’t negatively impacted him too much, he could be in line for a handsome contract next spring.”
Browns Face Complicated Decision on RB Nick Chubb
GettyCleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb.
Cleveland finds itself in a uniquely interesting and complicated spot with Chubb given the timing of his impending free agency and his most recent injury, as well as the team’s salary cap situation and roster makeup behind its star running back.
The Browns can remove free agency from the equation and keep Chubb, a fan favorite, for the foreseeable future by offering him an extension. That decision can drop Chubb’s 2024 cap hit significantly, depending on how Cleveland structures the deal, and keep his salary less onerous for a season or two after.
However, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reported in February that the team doesn’t expect Chubb back at full strength until the second half of 2024. That timetable severely limits the Browns’ ability to gauge the running back’s health and make a corresponding offer that is responsible and team-friendly.
Cleveland has a viable replacement for Chubb in Jerome Ford, who posted something of a breakout sophomore season and is playing on an exceedingly cheap rookie deal for the next two years. Ford will probably never be elite, while Chubb was arguably the best RB in football over the last half decade, but Ford’s value is arguably greater given his price-to-production ratio.
From Chubb’s perspective, betting on himself could land him another payday like the one he earned in 2021. Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs just signed deals valued at $12 million or above annually this offseason.
Barkley did so at the age of 27, despite an ACL tear in 2020 that cost him 14 games and impacted his availability/productivity significantly the following season. Chubb will play the upcoming campaign at 28, which would put him in free agency at 29 years old next offseason.
Browns RB Nick Chubb Hits Free Agency Within Next Year in Most Scenarios
GettyCleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb.
It's probably smarter for Chubb to seek a contract extension this summer instead of a restructure. The restructure would take guaranteed money from him and give it back as incentives without adding more guaranteed years.
Another choice is to refuse a restructure and negotiate hard for an extension. This could lead to a new deal with the Browns that Chubb likes, but it could also result in him being released before the 2024 season. Other teams are unlikely to offer Chubb a big money long-term deal until he proves himself on the field, so the probable outcome is a one-year deal and free agency in 2025.
Chubb betting on himself involves agreeing to a restructure in Cleveland for the 2024 season, where he keeps most of his guaranteed money but also helps the Browns with cap relief. Then, Chubb returns midway through the season and proves he's still a Pro Bowler, showing teams his value.
This isn't necessarily bad for Cleveland, but it puts Chubb in a position to become a free agent in 2025, when there will be fewer top running backs available and Chubb will likely have many teams interested in paying him well.
