Can Kareem Hunt Still Make an Impact?

After being close to signing deals elsewhere, Kareem Hunt may be the perfect fit for what the team needs.

The Cleveland Browns brought back a familiar face to help offset the loss of star running back Nick Chubb, when they signed Kareem Hunt to a one year deal worth up to $4M with incentives. While we don't have the full details of the contract yet, we can evaluate the current situation overall and answer some questions about his role and what he can contribute to the team.

First of all, I am encouraged by the reports of him being in great shape and having lost ten pounds from his playing weight last season. In his media availability yesterday, he did look noticeably leaner. Last year he did seem to lack the burst that he had displayed in the past. 

When asked about coming in lighter and whether that should lead to him being more explosive, Hunt said "I mean most definitely, I'm just ready to go out there and showcase my talent. I know what I bring to the table when I play the game of football so I'm excited.

The question now becomes how fast can he be ready to play? There is definitely another level to being in football shape. Hunt wasn't in training camp so they will have to ramp him up while being careful not to cause soft tissue injury that could keep him out. I do expect him to be available for Sunday's game but we should probably expect to see more snaps for Pierre Strong.

We should also point out that the offense has evolved since last year and I would expect that to continue even more with the loss of Chubb. Hunt really struggled with outside zone runs last year and it was tough to watch. 

I expect the team to lean more into running inside out of the shotgun formation. This is more of an ideal role for Hunt and one he thrived in Kansas City. His biggest strength that will be called on early is his ability in pass protection on third downs and passing situations. This is an area that Jerome Ford is working on to develop and can become a liability in certain situations. Hunt will also be called on to catch passes out of the backfield and help be a security blanket for Watson to check down to.

Perhaps Hunt's biggest contribution will come off the field and being able to remain close to his good friend Nick Chubb. Chubb has some lonely and difficult days ahead of him and there isn't another running back on the planet the Browns could have signed that will support Chubb more.

How much of an impact remains to be seen but when you consider all things, Hunt may be the perfect fit for what this team needs. It will clearly be Jerome Ford leading the ground game but Hunt can bring a stabilizing presence and contribute when called upon.