Browns: The last round of running back contracts may affect Nick Chubb

The Cleveland Browns are going to eventually look to extending Nick Chubb but recent complications at the position around the league may hinder things.

Nick Chubb is on his way to his second-straight Pro Bowl. The Cleveland Browns running back has 931 rushing yards in just ten games this year, has a seasonal yard-per-carry of 5.6 yards, and a career yard-per-carry of 5.2 yards. Chubb has 26 touchdowns just by rushing the ball and has converted 158 first-downs in his career. He’s arguably the best pure runner in the league among running backs. Yet, with all that known, it’s still a debate whether or not he should be paid among the top running backs in the league.

To be clear, it’s not an issue of not being better or as good as them. It’s an issue of these players being worth what they’re being paid. Ezekiel Elliot is making $15 million a year (more or less) for the next six years. Yet, in just his fifth year as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, he’s at just 3.9 yards-per-carry. He carries such a large figure and has produced such a minimal amount of production, that many are questioning not just the deal but his services as a whole. This doesn’t factor in all the off-field drama and accusations that have plagued him over the last few years either.

Then there’s Christian McCaffrey, the wunderkind, the legacy talent who’s amassed almost 6,000 yards from scrimmage in just three seasons.  He signed a major deal too, but his won’t have the same dead cap money over the life of the deal. He’s also missed most of the 2020 season as well, making fans wonder if he can actually produce at the level needed to warrant his deal. McCaffrey is also significantly more talented than Elliot, and far more versatile, which makes the questioning of his contract even more damning to the chances Chubb gets paid. Chubb isn’t as dynamic offensively as McCaffrey, and if there are people wondering if McCaffrey was worth his deal, why wouldn’t the same negativity come Chubb’s way?

Let’s also not forget the likes of Todd Gurley and David Johnson. Two other “top-tier” running backs who got major deals and then fell off the face of the Earth. Guys like McCaffrey, injured-Giants star Saquon Barkley and Alvin Kamara seem like the wave of the future at the position. Guys who can torch you up the gut and go over the top on unique passing routes. Chubb can’t do the second item needed, and while he’s a great ball-carrier, with the exception of Derrek Henry, there aren’t any pure runners in the NFL right now who warrant a massive deal.

Chubb does on paper but ask yourself if you think Chubb will live up to the deal during its life? It’s a fair question considering the evidence at hand. Maybe Chubb is more Henry than Elliot, but how long will Henry be Henry? His deal is pretty loaded but also not nearly as long as Elliot’s. For Henry, the Titans can opt-out of his deal and only eat a few million after next season.

Would Chubb be willing to sign a deal where he only really has job security for two seasons?

It might be worth keeping Chubb at a high price point regardless of what we know about big-contracted backs in the NFL. He might help break the curse alongside Henry. He might also break down more and more after each season to the point his deal cripples the team.

Chubb and his contract possibilities looked a lot better at the start of the year before three of the best running backs in the NFL got hurt or fell off dramatically. The market may say one thing for Chubb, but the landscape is going to say another. What will Chubb want in his deal? That’s going to be the telling sign if Chubb sticks around long-term or not.

After all, Andrew Berry has already shown that he’ll let talent walk if they’re even just a million dollars or so away from what he’s willing to offer.