The Cleveland Browns take running back Jerome Ford

The Cleveland Browns have drafted Jerome Ford.

The Cleveland Browns have drafted Jerome Ford out of Cincinnati with the 156th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ford had a breakout year as a junior, 1,539 yards from scrimmage and scoring 20 total touchdowns. 19 of which were on the ground rushing. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, so he has some speed, and is right in line with other running backs on the team with regards to quickness.

He joins a Browns team that has drafted kicker Cade York and receiver David Bell to help improve the offense through the draft.

This marks the Browns’ sixth pick so far this draft, and so far they’ve been an even 50/50 split on taking offensive and defensive players. Ford now joins a running back room that includes Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Demetric Felton, D’Ernest Johnson, Tre Harbison, and John Kelly.

The Cleveland Browns will likely move on from Kareem Hunt

The Browns just traded Troy Hill and will more than likely end up eating more than his contract cost for just a fifth-round pick. The Browns now have a loaded room of running backs, and with Johnson’s stock at an all-time high, Felton being a first-year player and now another running back joining the room, it looks like the team may be looking to move on from Hunt.

Hunt is in the final year of his contract and has never shown the same running effectiveness in Cleveland as he did in Kansas City. He’s been a good replacement back for Nick Chubb when Chubb needed a breather or was hurt, and at the price, he’s at is a steal, but his age and contract status make him expendable.

That doesn’t mean that we can just assume Felton or Ford can replace him, Felton struggled last year in minimal action and Ford will likely have to prove he’s worth getting reps over Johnson.