Will Nick Chubb Be Cut By The Browns? 2024 NFL Offseason Outlook

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb has been one of the best in the NFL over the last few years, and 2023 looked like it was going to be a whole lot more of the same. Unfortunately, the 28-year-old had to have two surgeries to repair his ACL, MCL, and meniscus after a gruesome injury in Week 2 that cut his season short.

The Browns ranked 23rd in rushing DVOA this year, and it was the first time since Kevin Stefanski took over where they finished outside the top 10. Cleveland missed his elite vision to find cutbacks in their outside zone scheme, and his absence was felt all season.

AFC cut candidates: @MattOkada lists Nick Chubb, Joey Bosa among potential cap casualties heading into free agencyhttps://t.co/k34c6T3d9R pic.twitter.com/QRw1tm9u9w

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— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) February 20, 2024

Chubb is entering the final year of his deal in 2024. However, could the star running back end up getting cut this offseason?

Will Nick Chubb Be Cut By The Browns?

Chubb is owed a base salary of $11.8 million in 2024, and his overall cap hit is at $15.8 million, per Over The Cap. He isn't going to be ready for the start of the season, and history shows most running backs experience a significant dip in their first season back from ACL surgery.

If Chubb misses a chunk of games and is a shell of himself, he won't be worth the $15.8 million in cap space.

By cutting him pre-June 1st, the Browns would save $11.8 million in cap space and only take on $4 million in dead cap for 2024. They are looking to create space as they are currently $6 million over the cap, and in most cases, cutting Chubb would be an avenue for more flexibility.

ICYMI: Why the #Browns have no plans to cut Nick Chubb, and when he'll be back on the field. The story: https://t.co/nKJS9O4pMQ

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 23, 2024

As shown in the past, Cleveland will be aggressive with their restructures and look to spread their big-money contracts out so the cap hits lessen them for the current season. If Chubb wasn't the soul of the team and beloved by the fans, this would probably be an easy cut.

However, the Browns have made it clear they want to do right by Chubb, and it's more likely they look to rework his deal to closer to $3-4 million with incentives to get back to that $11 million mark.

At 28, having two very serious knee surgeries that essentially had to repair every part of the same knee, there are plenty of reasonable concerns about the level of burst Chubb will have upon return. Although he likely returns in more of a 1A role instead of a true workhorse, his vision and ability to find cutbacks will have value in the Browns' offense next year.

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