5 Cleveland Browns auditioning for a job elsewhere in 2023
By Randy Gurzi
2. Kareem Hunt, Running Back
A local kid who needed to rehab his image, Kareem Hunt has done exactly that over the past four seasons with the Browns. He now has a total of 1,711 yards on the ground and 880 as a receiver with 23 combined touchdowns.
He’s been a great weapon behind Nick Chubb that offers a more explosive style of running. So far in eight games this season, Hunt’s off to a slower start than expected but did explode out of the gate in Week 1 as he had two touchdowns in the win over Carolina.
Have a day, Kareem Hunt!
— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) September 11, 2022
TD x2! pic.twitter.com/Gqvn9GuyqB
That game showcased exactly what this offense was missing in 2021 when Hunt was injured for nine games. And while he was hopeful for an extension, that seems highly unlikely considering they’re already paying Chubb elite money.
The writing was on the wall as soon as Cleveland took Jerome Ford in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati product runs with a similar reckless abandon as Hunt and is also capable of turning in the big play as a pass-catcher.
Ford is currently injured but as long as the Browns believe he can stay healthy going forward, he’s going to be a much more affordable replacement as Hunt looks for a home elsewhere in 2023.