Cleveland Browns, Nick Chubb agree on re-worked contract for 2024 season

The Cleveland Browns and running back Nick Chubb have come to an agreement on a re-worked contract for the 2024 season, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Chubb, who suffered a knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, has agreed to lower his base salary of $11.75 million while adding incentives that can bring him back up to the original total.

The former second-rounder out of Georgia had a cap hit of $15.825 million, which led some analysts to believe the Browns might be forced to release him to clear some room. By agreeing to some salary concessions, he ensures that he remains with the team for at least one more season. He originally signed a three-year deal for $36 million in 2022. That deal runs out and makes him a free agent next March.

Cleveland was put in a tough position last season after Chubb’s MCL injury, which required surgery. They’ve since re-stocked the running backs room, adding Nyheim Hines and D’Onta Foreman to a room that already includes Chubb, Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong and John Kelly. They now have six running backs on the roster heading into draft season. It’s unlikely they keep all six when the 53-man cut comes in August.

Browns’ Nick Chubb on the road to full recovery

Kevin Stefanski, the reigning NFL coach of the year, updated Chubb’s injury status during a media availability from the owners’ meeting in Orlando.

“I’m excited for Nick,” Stefanski told reporters. “He’s doing a great job with his rehab as everybody can imagine. We’ll just make sure that we continue to make decisions based on him and the medical staff. But excited about Nick.”

Despite his progress, it’s still unclear when Chubb will return to the field at 100%. It usually takes a year to recover from ACL surgery. He went through that in early October last season. Along with Chubb, the Browns are also waiting for quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s return from shoulder injury.

For his career, Chubb has piled up 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns on the ground. He’s added 1,011 receiving yards and four additional scores. Chubb has eclipsed 1,000 yards in every year but his rookie season (2018). That year, he came up four yards short, totaling 996 yards on the ground. The Browns selected the former Georgia star with the third pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.