5 reasons Cleveland Browns fans should be optimistic about 2022 season
By John Suchan
Reason No. 3 for Cleveland Browns fans to be optimistic this season: They have the best running game in NFL
Those that still argue that running backs aren’t that important to NFL teams in this new day and age of spread offenses where quarterbacks are slinging the ball all over the field simply don’t get what the Browns have in their running back room.
They’re the best running back group in the NFL. They are very deep too at the moment. D’Ernest Johnson just signed his new $2.4 million contract on Saturday. So, they now have Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Demetric Felton, and newly drafted Jerome Ford from Cincinnati on the roster. They can’t keep them all in likelihood so stay tuned.
But in the meantime, we know the team will have a solid group of backs and that will equal continued success for the team. Chubb will likely contend for the NFL rushing title again and Hunt will be Chubb’s sidekick and be that altering player that will keep defenses guessing. Hunt’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will likely be in use a lot with Watson throwing him the ball this season.
Johnson helped a lot last season when Chubb and Hunt were out due to Covid or injuries. He will likely be used in the same way in times when Chubb or Hunt might be laboring. It’ll be interesting to see as well how Felton and Ford do at training camp.
While Felton has a year on Ford as far as experience with the Browns, Ford could be looked at as more of a long-term replacement for Hunt. Felton will have to really earn his paycheck this summer.