We’ve heard a lot about a potential Nick Chubb extension this offseason, and now it’s officially happening. The Browns and the running back have agreed to terms on an extension, a source told Mike Jones of USA Today.
Jones said four years, but it’s actually a three-year extension worth $36M with $20M guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson was first to announce that a deal was close. It had always been up in the air whether something would get done before the season started, but they managed to complete it with plenty of time to spare.
As a second-round pick in 2018, Chubb was previously set to enter the final year of his rookie deal. He’s been one of the best running backs in the NFL since entering the league, and he has made the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons.
The Georgia product led the league in rushing in 2019 and led the league in rushing touchdowns last year with 12 despite playing in only 12 games. Impressively, Chubb has averaged at least five yards per carry in each of his three pro seasons.
Chubb is now one of the league’s highest-paid running backs, and he should have at least another opportunity to break the bank. As a result of this relatively short-term deal, Chubb will get to re-enter free agency in the spring of 2025 when he’ll still only be 29.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski loves to run the ball, and he wasn’t about to let the engine of his offense go anywhere. The deal will keep Chubb tied to the Browns through the 2024 campaign. The Browns also have Kareem Hunt in their backfield, but that didn’t appear to make them at all hesitant about paying Chubb.
More must-reads: