The Cleveland Browns could use another running back, and local product Kareem Hunt could be a player taken with a pick on the third day of the NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns didn’t do a horrible job running the ball in 2016. The problem was being in a position where the team could actually look to build a drive by running the ball.
Trailing by double-digit margins early in games did nothing to help the running backs, and the lack of a dominant threat in the passing game only made things worse.
Isaiah Crowell didn’t have a horrible season, rushing for 952 yards and seven touchdowns, but he never reached 20 carries in a game. Better yet, he failed to reach 10 carries in five games.
Some new pieces along the offensive line, along with some better quarterback play, should open things up more for the running backs. But it never hurts to bring in more talent, and a strong third back to play alongside Crowell and Duke Johnson could help keep all three players fresh, while adding a new dynamic to the offense.
A lot of the focus is currently on Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey, but local product Kareem Hunt could be an option later in the draft.
The Willoughby, Ohio native spent four years at the University of Toledo, finishing an illustrious career with 4,945 rushing yards and 44 rushing touchdowns.
If the Browns want to focus on defense in the earlier rounds, Hunt is certainly a player the team can grab on the second or third day of the draft.
Kareem Hunt isn’t the fastest or the strongest running back in the draft, but he didn’t get here by accident.
Some were disappointed with his 4.62 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, but that one time doesn’t take away from how strong he is as a runner.
His 5-foot-10, 216-pound frame shows in his highlights from Toledo. Warning, some of the song lyrics is this video may be NSFW.
Let’s start with the obvious fact that NFL defenses are much tougher than what Hunt faced in the MAC. However, you can see his downhill running ability when he gets going in the open field. He is also nimble enough to shift and avoid defenders, showing great vision.
In Hunt’s Draft profile, written by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, it is stated that the former Toledo Rocket often gets too fancy instead of just putting his head down and running.
From the piece:
"Gets too cute in the hole when run comes to a close. Looks to spin rather than finish with authority. Needs to run to his size more consistently. Premature in breaking off play-side runs in outside zone. He might not trust his play speed."
This may bring up some dark flashbacks of Trent Richardson, but Hunt would not come to the Browns to be the featured back. He would come in to complement both Crowell and Johnson, while also serving as a passing threat out of the backfield. His 555 career receiving yards at Toledo, 403 of which came in his senior season, show his ability to be a threat there.
Once an NFL team drafts Hunt, they will bring him in and put more weight on him right away. Professional training, on a full-time basis, should only help his speed and strength as well.
So while his combine numbers don’t stack up to the likes of Fournette and Cook, no one expected them too. Hunt is not a top prospect, but he would still be a solid fit with the Browns.
While it is nice to bring in a player like Leonard Fournette and give him the keys to the offense, the Browns are not in a position to spend a high pick on a running back.
Yes, adding a dominant back does change the dynamic of the offense, but the Browns still need a defense that can get stops and a special teams that can give the offense good starting field position to allow the offense to mix up the play-calling. It’s hard to run the ball when the offense consistently starts on its own side of the field, as was a common sight in 2016.
So while the rest of the team is built up, the running back position is not one where the team should reach in the draft. Crowell and Johnson did well enough with what they were given last year to prevent a major overhaul at the position, although another piece never hurts.
Related: Juju Smith-Schuster draft profile
Hunt could come in as an equal to the other two backs, with all three splitting time. Crowell would enter the year as the number one guy, but Johnson would continue to be a passing threat out of the backfield, while Hunt could do it all.
Drafting Hunt gives the Browns a talented back without having to use a valuable first or second-round pick on him. NFLDraftScout.com has him as the No. 123 overall prospect, with six running backs ahead of him.
If he falls to the end of the third round, or even the fourth, the Browns should take him. With 11 picks at the team’s disposal, they don’t want to spend all 11 on defensive players. Doing this only leads to half the picks being cut, essentially making their selection a waste.
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The Browns instead need to take players who can realistically make the team, and Hunt would be a for-sure thing in 2017.