Chiefs, Browns Ex Kareem Hunt 'Staying Ready'; Commanders Target?

Reports of the Washington Commanders doing some preliminary work on adding free agent running back Kareem Hunt haven't developed much past that, but the player says he's staying ready for when the call comes.

The Washington Commanders have arguably the best set of weapons in the NFC East Division with receivers like Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel. 

In addition to those playmakers, the Commanders have a running back room led by Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson that could be considered one of the best in the league by the end of this season. 

Still, even with those weapons - and we didn't even mention the tight end room - there was a buzz of excitement when it was recently revealed Washington might have an interest in adding free agent running back Kareem Hunt.  

That interest hasn't turned into actual action yet, but the back says that fact isn't keeping him from enjoying this time while staying ready for when the time comes for him to join another NFL franchise. 

"I'm just being patient," Hunt told The News-Herald during a recent youth football camp. "I've had some things come up. But right now, I'm enjoying my time with my family. I'm training and working hard and just staying ready."

While teams like the Commanders are already weeks into preparation for the coming season, this year is a little different than past ones for a couple of reasons.

First, the team is starting a new quarterback - not something that is unique to this team as it's done so very often in recent years - but that being coupled with a new offensive coordinator in a year where everyone's jobs are assumed to be on the line makes this season a little more pressure-filled than others.

Typically, this would deter the addition of a new player mid-prep, but Hunt is familiar with assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's strategies and language from his time with the coach as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs organization.

This decrease in the amount of learning that would need to occur makes it a connection that could work even with the delayed start. 

Even with an ever-shrinking timeline to get a deal done before his odds of success in 2023 begin to decrease, Hunt says he's not feeling the pressure.

"I'm not frustrated at all," Hunt said. "It's going to work itself out...I know it's all going to work out at the end of the day."

And we'd be lying if we didn't say that the idea of Hunt joining the Commanders gives us a little more optimism that it'll all work out for this franchise as well.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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