The Cleveland Browns said goodbye to a franchise legend when they let running back Nick Chubb hit free agency. They didn’t, however, slam the door behind him.
There’s still a chance Chubb returns in free agency, having gone without a suitor through the first six weeks. It won’t be in the 300-carry role that saw him carry Cleveland’s offense. It might not be in a starting role at all.
The Browns could find their answer on Chubb, either for or against him, by the NFL Draft as they weigh a stacked running back class with their esteemed icon.
“I do believe they’ll re-sign Nick Chubb after the draft once they see how it all shakes out, providing he hasn’t found a new home by then,” Mary Kay Cabot wrote. “I think the door is open for him, but he might also want a chance for a larger role.”
Starting in Round 2, a handful of running backs begin to make sense for Cleveland. High-profile backs like North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins could fit the bill.
With that said, the pressing need for a franchise quarterback may be delayed by blue-chip prospects atop the draft, pushing running back further down the board.
As Day 3 begins, another collection of backs could hear their name called. Among them is Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, who may be able to steal fans' hearts in a similar fashion to Chubb.
All-Pro expectations on any prospect are ambitious, but Skattebo is incredibly dense, a 219-pound bruiser who runs hard and finishes harder. His contact balance is well above-average and he’s versatile enough to see time on passing downs and has flashed raw power outside the tackles, too.
Matching Chubb’s proclivity for the big play will be one of his biggest hurdles, and his speed demands his vision and footwork compensate, complicating his transition to the NFL. If Cleveland is looking for another powerful back to add to the stable, Skattebo is one of several quality fits.
Doing so could eliminate Chubb from the team’s discussions. However, the team is only rostering Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong at running back in the days ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. As Cabot notes, a part-time role and a risk-free contract could come into play, more so if the Browns avoid the position when on the clock.
