Story by
Andrew Berry expects RB Nick Chubb to 'hit the market' when free agency opens in March
- Story by
- Andrew Berry expects RB Nick Chubb to 'hit the market' when free agency opens in March
INDIANAPOLIS — Browns general manager Andrew Berry is a big fan of Nick Chubb . The Browns running back is a big fan of staying in Cleveland .
However, none of that may be enough to prevent Chubb from at least finding out how many other teams are big fans of his. Or at least big enough fans to sign him to a new contract.
Advertisement
Berry confirmed Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine he didn't expect a new deal to get done with the running back before the free-agent negotiation period opened at noon March 10.
"I would say at this point that we do expect Nick to hit the market," Berry said. "Obviously his contract is up this year. We'll meet with his reps and everything like that, but it's something that obviously we need to work through over the next couple weeks."
That is about as forthcoming as Berry will be about any potential transaction, short of his insistence the team won't trade star defensive end Myles Garrett . Most questions regarding contractual issues are met with a roundabout "no comment."
Chubb spoke to the Beacon Journal on Feb. 7 and said his desire was to get a deal done "sooner than later." However, he also acknowledged it being his first time actually getting to free agency, so he was "not sure how it'll work."
Advertisement
The 29-year-old Georgia native expressed his desire to remain with the Browns. Cleveland drafted Chubb in the second round in 2018, and he's gone on to be the franchise's No. 3 all-time rusher behind Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly with 6,843 yards.
"Man, just for me, the city of Cleveland means lot," Chubb told the Beacon Journal. "To me, it's a special place. The people in Cleveland make it great, the fans and just the people around the city. But always a special place to me in my heart. I loved it here and it will always be home, no matter what."
The problem for Chubb that is potentially going to force the two to part ways is injury issues the last two seasons. The biggest of those was a knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season that required two separate surgeries.
That injury kept him sidelined through the first six games of last season. He finally returned in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals , but sustained a season-ending broken foot in the third quarter of a Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs .
Advertisement
Chubb said he didn't require surgery for the foot. Berry didn't sound too concerned about the foot issue when asked about it Tuesday.
"He's in a good place in terms of, like, doing everything," Berry said.
Despite not coming back until the seventh game of the season, and only playing 7½ games, he still finished the season two shy of the team lead in rushing attempts with 102. He was second on the team in rushing with 332 yards, while tying Jerome Ford with three touchdown runs.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Andrew Berry expects Nick Chubb to test free-agent market
