3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not

Expanded role needed: Jerome Ford, RB

For the past four seasons, the Browns have had one of the best running back combinations in the NFL with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. When both were on the field and healthy, Cleveland’s ground game was nearly impossible to stop.

However, Hunt struggled some this past season. He ran for 468 yards and had another 210 as a receiver but scored just four touchdowns. He also had a career-low 3.8 yards per attempt.

Now a free agent, Hunt is likely on the way out which opens the door for Jerome Ford, who deserves more opportunities to run the ball.

A fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, Ford hardly saw the ball on offense. He ended up with just 12 yards on eight carries but showed off his playmaking ability when he was used as a kick returner. With 30 runbacks on the season, Ford went for 723 yards with a long of 48.

Originally a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ford transferred to Cincinnati and had a monster senior campaign with 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. He’s a shifty runner that doesn’t shy away from contact and while he might not be at the same level Hunt was in his prime, he can do a lot of the same things if given a shot in the RB2 role.