Decent Chance Kareem Hunt Remains with Browns in 2023, Source says

Browns running back Kareem Hunt, who remains a free agent, has a chance to stay with the Browns next season but it’s still up in the air, per a source.

I’m told there’s still a world where Kareem Hunt is a Cleveland Brown in 2023.

Hunt is currently a free agent, however, he was hoping for a larger market and an opportunity to get a more prominent role and more money elsewhere based on my understanding of the situation.

Unfortunately for Hunt, the market he was hoping for is yet to form and with several running backs coming off the board early in free agency, it’s leaving a lot of uncertainty around the 27-year-old tailback’s future.

There’s still a good shot that Hunt signs elsewhere and plays for a different organization next season, but a potential return to the Browns remains in the cards, per a source. 

Source: There’s still a decent chance RB Kareem Hunt signs back with the #Browns. Hunt was hoping for a bigger opportunity and more money elsewhere on the open market. There’s still a good shot he’s not on the Browns in 2023, but it remains in the cards and is possible, I’m told.

— Noah Weiskopf (@BrownsWithNoah) March 16, 2023

Hunt was given a second chance by the Browns in 2019 after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs following an incident with a woman in downtown Cleveland.

The Willoughby, Ohio native recorded 198 rushes for 841 yards and six touchdowns during his first full season in 2020.

The Nick Chubb and Hunt tandem in Cleveland worked extremely well and gave head coach Kevin Stefanski a lot of flexibility.

Hunt had a down year in 2022, while only tallying 123 rushes for 468 yards and 4 total touchdowns, two of which came during the team's week one victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The Browns are very high on running back Jerome Ford, but if the opportunity arises for Cleveland to re-sign Hunt on a cheap one-year deal, he could return to Cleveland for one more season.

D’Ernest Johnson is also a free agent who the Browns could sign back if they deem it necessary.