Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb extension further proof of turnaround
A Nick Chubb extension is further proof of the dramatic turnaround for the Cleveland Browns.
It’s a big pay day for a running back, as the Cleveland Browns have signed running back Nick Chubb to a three year extension worth up to $36.6 million, which comes with a guaranteed $20 million. This comes after another season where Chubb crossed the 1,000 yard mark on the ground, and his 12 touchdown runs were a career high. Chubb is now under contract through 2024.
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This extension further proves how dramatic the turnaround has been for the franchise, and how things started with the 2018 NFL Draft. Yes, Myles Garrett was a big time selection from 2017, but 2018 was the franchise-altering draft. John Dorsey, the general manager at the time, and Andrew Berry (the current general manager but vice president of player personnel then) landed three studs early in quarterback Baker Mayfield, corner Denzel Ward, and the aforementioned Chubb. All three have been huge in the Browns’ rise back to relevancy.
Those two, combined with Berry’s return and the hiring of Kevin Stefanski, have this team on the doorstep of serious Super Bowl contention. They’ve been able to acquire big free agents (Jack Conklin, J.C. Tretter, John Johnson III, Austin Hooper), and make trades for superstars, like Odell Beckham Jr. They aren’t afraid to get aggressive, which is fun to see.
Berry is currently one of the smartest minds in the game, and that momentum from 2018 has carried over to recent NFL Drafts. Bringing in players like Jedrick Wills, Jacob Phillips, and Donovan Peoples-Jones have proven that they are finding contributors in the later rounds as well as nailing early selections. Not to mention, they were a consensus “winner” from the 2020 draft as well, getting players to add further depth to their defense, and getting a speedster in Anthony Schwartz.
Paying Chubb won’t seem like a win to everyone, especially the “don’t pay RBs” crowd, but ultimately, keeping players around who are cornerstones to your team is crucial to team building. Chubb is really the engine of the Browns’ offense, as his 3,557 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5.2 yards per carry clearly show.
The Cleveland Browns look here to stay, and thanks to Dorsey, (especially) Berry, and now Stefanski at coach, they have a great front office and coaching staff that will continue to add and develop great players. The winning window is wide open, and the AFC better watch out.