Insider says we've seen the last of Kareem Hunt with Browns

After a career-reviving season while splitting time with Nick Chubb in 2020, it was expected that Kareem Hunt had become a focal point of the Cleveland Browns offense.

But relegated to just 23 games over the last two seasons, it appears Hunt has reached the end of the road in Cleveland, according to Browns insider Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com.

“Hunt won’t be back in 2023,” Pluto said in a recent Q&A. “The Browns like Jerome Ford, and he’s on a reasonable rookie contract. He’ll back up Nick Chubb. It will always be a sore spot with many fans when it comes to the lack of carries for Hunt. This is the worst year of Hunt’s career. He’s averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He still runs hard but doesn’t seem to break tackles or show the same speed as he had in the past.”

Hunt rushed for 841 yards and six touchdowns on 198 carries in 2020 while splitting time with Chubb, establishing a “thunder and lightning” one-two punch of sorts. 

But a calf injury limited him to just eight games the following year as Chubb put up nearly 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns and D’Ernest Johnson added another 534 yards and three touchdowns. Suddenly, Hunt was the odd man out.

Hunt asked for a trade prior to the season, and his name was tossed around quite a few times before the trade deadline, but nothing materialized. He’s quietly rushed for 455 yards and three touchdowns on his way out the door.

Just 27, Hunt could draw some interest in free agency with running back-needy teams like the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.