The Cleveland Browns appear to have made a decision on the future of running back Nick Chubb based on another move they made Friday.
The Browns and running back Jerome Ford agreed to a restructured contract that will see Ford accept a paycut, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. That move likely means Chubb will have to move on, as the Browns do not have a roster spot for him.
Had Ford declined the paycut, the Browns would have looked to trade him, which could have opened up a spot for Chubb.
Chubb is currently a free agent, but the Browns had not completely ruled out bringing him back. Those chances dimmed when the team took two running backs in the first 126 picks of the NFL Draft, headlined by Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins at No. 33 overall. Ford, Judkins, and No. 126 pick Dylan Sampson figure to get the bulk of the Browns’ running back reps going forward.
Chubb will likely draw interest even with the Browns out on him. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection, but injuries have raised questions about the future of the 29-year-old. He infamously suffered a serious knee injury in 2015 while playing at Georgia, then suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL to the same knee in early 2023. Recovery from that injury kept him out for the first six weeks of the 2024 season, and that campaign also ended prematurely when he broke his foot.
After playing just 10 games in two seasons, Chubb is unlikely to get a chance to be the unquestioned No. 1 back for any team in 2025. His track record is such that someone will still give him a chance to contribute and show he can stay healthy.
