Cleveland Browns reportedly restructure Chris Hubbard’s contract
The Cleveland Browns saved some money on Thursday by restructuring the contract of former starting right tackle Chris Hubbard.
The Cleveland Browns and Chris Hubbard reportedly came to an agreement on a contract restructure, first reported by NFLTradeRumors.com. Details of the contract have not been announced by the club but this means that Hubbard will likely stick around to compete for the open right guard spot or backup swing tackle position.
Hubbard took a significant paycut with his restructured pay cut, as Field Yates of ESPN reported that it is a reworked two-year deal for Hubbard. Hubbard can also void the second year of his deal if he plays at least 90 percent of Cleveland’s snaps this season.
Hubbard had a sub-par season last year at the right tackle position. Enough so where new general manager Andrew Berry went out and grabbed the top right tackle in free agency with the signing of former Tennessee Titan Jack Conklin.
Hubbard signed in the spring of 2018 to a five-year, $36.5 million contract by former general manager John Dorsey. He did not live up to the high expectations of the former front office. But with this restructuring, it gives Hubbard a chance to earn a starting position at right guard, as he can compete with Drew Forbes and Wyatt Teller come training camp.
With Hubbard’s veteran experience in being a six-year professional, moving to guard could be a natural transition for him. With an excellent center in J.C. Tretter and a very good right tackle in Conklin playing beside him, Hubbard could have a real chance to thrive.
As an example, look at what Ereck Flowers did last season with the Washington Redskins under now Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan. After playing tackle his entire career, he was moved inside last season and played extremely well, earning himself a new three-year, $30 million deal with Miami this offseason.
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Hubbard would have to bulk a bit to be moved to the inside, but with lots of time off right now, he can work on bulking his body to be ready by the start of camp.