Should Browns Re-Sign Kareem Hunt?
Kareem Hunt has had a wildly unexpected NFL career after leading the league in rushing back in 2017 as a rookie third-rounder for the Kansas City Chiefs. His second NFL season got off to a hot start, amassing over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 11 games before getting released by the Chiefs on November 30th, 2018 after video surveillance leaked via TMZ of him allegedly physically assaulting a woman and kicking her on the ground.
A few months later, in February of 2019 the Browns signed Hunt to a one-year deal. The team surely knew the running back would be facing a suspension from the NFL but were expecting the former Pro Bowler to serve as a complimentary piece to Nick Chubb, who was coming off a stellar rookie season of his own in 2018. Ultimately, Hunt served an eight-game suspension and for 2019 served as a third-down running back, mostly used as more of a threat in the receiving game than running game.
While Hunt did provide some more value in 2020 as Chubb missed missed multiple games due to injury and racked up over a 1,000 yards from scrimmage, his yards per carry had dropped to 4.2 and it was clear he was not the same player he had been with the Chiefs. In 2021, Chubb again missed a few games and this provided more opportunities for Hunt, although he ended up finishing third on the team in rushing yards as former un-drafted running back D'Ernest Johnson shined with while averaging 5.2 yards per carry and proving capable in the receiving game as well.
As it related to 2022, with the divisive and risky addition of quarterback Deshaun Watson, the offense started to change a little bit. Unfortunately for Hunt, this did not necessarily play to his strengths and it surely showed in the game tape. His yards per carry dropped to a career low fo 3.8, as well as his yard per reception also dropping to a career low of 6.0. Part of this is due to the offense the Brown started running, as they began incorporating some more inside zone schemes. Hunt had struggled in the past with outside zone concepts, and inside zone didn't seem too kind to Hunt, either.
Another part of Hunt's potential to decline is simply due to his age and losing a bit of ability that he was once able to use to his advantage. Hunt will turn 28 years old before the 2023 NFL season kicks off, and typically that age is when running backs start to slow down -- if not earlier. Perhaps Hunt would benefit from more consistency and not coming in and out of the game so much, giving him a chance to get going and build up some momentum, although I'm not so sure giving him more carries is necessarily the answer to his dwindling YPC.
All of this to say, after four years in Cleveland, still: would it make sense for the Browns to entertain bringing Hunt back? He remains a free agent after a few months on the open market, and the Browns have yet to address the running back position this off-season outside of signing Georgia Tech's Hassan Hall as an un-drafted free agent. There is certainly an argument to be made that Hunt could still provide some value on an NFL roster such as the Browns, even if his days as a lead-back are well past gone. After all, the Browns have never asked him to fill that role, outside of when Chubb has missed some time.
There's a couple reasons to think the Browns will -- and should -- stay away from Hunt for the time being. Firstly, while Hunt's value on the open market isn't necessarily what he had hoped it would be, re-signing him would likely still make him the Browns' second-most expensive running back, even if it's substantially less than the $6.25 million he made in 2022. With money going elsewhere across the roster this year, it may not be wise to commit high-level backup running back money to a player who's abilities have clearly diminished over the years.
Secondly, as noted previously, the Browns have been changing their offense since acquiring Watson in 2022. With his second year in the system, it's expected the offense will continue to grow and mold around him as a player. The Browns have added to the wide-receiver room the last couple of years, spending a 2022-third rounder on David Bell, a 2023-third rounder on Cedric Tillman, signing Marquise Goodwin in free agency, and perhaps most importantly, trading their 2023-second round pick to the Jets for the disgruntled Elijah Moore. These moves would seem to indicate the Browns are placing more value on wide receiver and expecting more production out of that position. While that doesn't entirely eliminate the need for a pass-catching back, it's fair to question whether the Browns would spend additional money on one -- especially with Hunt who's body and athleticism isn't what it once was.
Last but not least, the Browns have also lightly invested in running back in the last few years as well. 2021-sixth round pick Demetric Felton Jr. has fans in the building, as well as 2022-fifth rounder Jerome Ford. Throw in the undrafted free agent of Hall and you have a solid enough collection of backup guys. While Hall is no guarantee to make the roster as an undrafted free agent, the Browns have had some success in the past with Johnson and even players like Isaiah Crowell. It would make sense to give these guys a fair shot in the off-season before dipping their toes back into the running back market, especially given how slow it is moving.
So while Hunt was a fun redemption story, albeit controversial, in his four years in Cleveland as a hometown kid, a combination of Ford, Felton Jr., and Hall may be able to fill the diminished role that Hunt would likely have in 2023. Even if the Browns decide these three can't do so and look to add an additional veteran player, it's not likely that player will -- or should -- be Hunt.
