Outside of Nick Chubb, questions still remain for Cleveland Browns run game in 2023

Question No. 3: Will the Browns consider picking up a free agent running back?

Those alternatives could include the Browns going out and picking up a free agent running back. There are many options in this group and many of these players wouldn't cost the team that much. I wrote on a few of these candidates a couple of weeks ago and they include Raheem Mostert, Boston Scott, and Jamaal Williams. There's also Super Bowl winner Jerick McKinnon of the Kansas City Chiefs set to hit the open market.

Cleveland has options in this area and for them not to consider some of these more veteran backs wouldn't be good NFL business. We don't know yet what second-year player Jerome Ford will be able to do in a potential new role so it's smart to have back up plans.

Both Mostert and McKinnon are intriguing options as they eachh bring a lot of experience with them. Mostert had a couple of excellent campaigns with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 and 2020. In that 2019 season, he had the game of his career when he went for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a huge playoff win against the Green Bay Packers.

McKinnon could make some sense for Cleveland as well. I say that for a couple of reasons. First he's a very versatile back, and has been used as a rusher but also a pass catcher. Last season in Kansas City he rushed the ball 72 times for 291 yards and also caught 56 passes for 512 yards and nine touchdowns. He's caught over 30 passes in three previous seasons as well.

The other advantage to McKinnon being an addition for the Browns, is that he started his career with the Minnesota Vikings back in 2014, the same team that current Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski once coached for. It could be a reunion of sorts for the two and that might help make this happen.