3 Cleveland Browns that could be in their final year with the team
By Greg Newland
1. Chris Hubbard
Many believe that the 2020 No. 10 pick, Jedrick Wills Jr. is a sure-fire opening day starter at left tackle for the Browns. However, there is still a chance that Wills doesn’t live up to expectations or adjust to switching sides. Unlikely, but there is a chance the team must consider.
Because of this risk, the restructuring of Chris Hubbard’s contract was crucial. Hubbard agreed to take less money in 2020 and has zero guaranteed dollars for the 2021 season. The contract will void if Hubbard plays enough snaps in 2020.
It appears unlikely that Hubbard will see the field in 2020, and his $6 million cap number in 2021 will be too much for the Browns to swallow. The offensive line is the one position in the NFL that no team can have enough of, which would make Hubbard a likely trade piece.
In this scenario, the Browns wouldn’t have to eat the $2 million of the dead cap in 2021 and they could likely get a late-round pick out of someone who isn’t crucial to the team.
If a team faces significant injuries at tackle in 2020 (like the Browns in 2019) and Wills shows early he is the real deal, Hubbard could be traded as early as next season. Hubbard has significant starting experience at tackle and a team in trouble could overcompensate for his immediate services. He was a below-average starting tackle for the Browns but will likely be a crucial trade piece for the team moving forward.
Next. The Cleveland Browns 2020 Offensive Line Breakdown. dark
The three players above are scheduled to be under contract past 2020, but there will be many more veterans out of contract who will likely be moving on as well. Names like Vernon, Terrance Mitchell, and Kareem Hunt will all be contributors in 2020, but will not receive extensions from the Browns.