Kareem Hunt Could Uplift Browns Offense if Utilized Correctly

The Cleveland Browns are 2-6 on the season and it may be tough to find anything good about the team at this moment, but they are getting some help when they step on the field Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Kareem Hunt will be eligible to return to action Sunday, after serving an eight game suspension to start the season. Hunt hasn’t played since week 11 of the 2018 season when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs. Almost exactly one year later, he will be make his 2019 debut, with a new team on a day with possible snow.

As many know, Kareem Hunt is a Northern Ohio native and attended college at Toledo. Drafted in the third round of the 2017 draft, Hunt is still a young buck in the league in just his third season. As a rookie the stud running back led the league with over 1,300 rushing yards. This great season had Hunt emerging as one of the best running backs in the game, up there with the likes of Ezekiel Elliott and Le’veon Bell at the time.

In 2018 with the Chiefs Kareem Hunt was once again off to a big start. Through his 11 games with Kansas City he had accounted for 824 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, also 378 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. One of those games came against Cleveland, where he got tickets for a bunch of Willoughby South High School students where he attended school. In that game, a loss for the Browns, Hunt was good for three touchdowns. These numbers had Hunt once again up there with the best of the best in the league and probably the best all around running back in the entire league.

Released after the week 11 game against the Los Angeles Rams when video surfaced of him appearing to kick a woman as well as bull rushing her. That was one of a few incidents the NFL investigated before deciding on his suspension.

Cleveland claimed the running back in February and he has been out of trouble to this point. Back in Cleveland, an area he’s comfortable with, Hunt has been out of the spotlight and hasn't really been heard from, which is the best thing for him.

The return of Kareem Hunt could be a blessing for the Browns, who are in big need of a spark on offense. Yes, a spark, even with all the playmakers already on the team. Cleveland signed Hunt to a one year deal worth around one-million dollars. A prove it deal for Hunt, who has to show he can be a functional, accountable human being, because his talent on the field isn't a question.

Kareem Hunt saw limited action with the Browns in the preseason, carrying the ball seven times for 17 yards. The only time he’s been in a Cleveland uniform to date.

Since the trade of Duke Johnson, Cleveland hasn’t really had a number two running back that can be noted every game. Dontrell Hilliard is the third down back for Cleveland and has 13 carries for 49 yards and 11 receptions for 88 yards. Just to show how much Nick Chubb has carried this team from the running back position, he has 803 rushing yards and adds 161 yards in the receiving game.

With the addition of Kareem Hunt, the backfield of the Cleveland Browns should force defenses to pick their poison. The third year back very well could lineup in the backfield with Nick Chubb in two-back sets. The two-back sets could get interesting, defenses have to take a gamble on those and hope for the best. A small mistake from linebackers could create a big play for one of them. Kareem Hunt should also help Chubb stay fresher, so that both are playing as close to 100 percent as possible every time they touch the ball.

Kareem Hunt will be a upgrade from Duke Johnson, as he’s able to run between the tackles, as well as a big time player in the receiving game and has just one career fumble. Hunt brings power and speed to the game, a lot like Nick Chubb does, which should form a two-headed monster for Cleveland.

Baker Mayfield has struggled this season and Kareem Hunt should bring him a little more comfort. Hunt will be a receiving option that can make things happen after the catch. Kareem Hunt is more physical than Dontrell Hilliard. Hunt should also offer more as a blocker in pass protection. Don’t be surprised to see Hunt go out into the slot, acting as a receiver where he is very capable. The defense has to account for him, taking at least one defender from keying in on what’s going on in the backfield.

Browns fans might only see Kareem Hunt in orange and brown for eight games, but he should definitely be a positive to the team. Head coach Freddie Kitchens has already hinted that Kareem Hunt is penciled in at the second running back spot, saying “he will definitely have a role”. The point isn’t to replace a player, to improve is the right term. Kareem Hunt will be an improvement to the offense, another weapon and an upgrade to their backfield depth.