Browns Extend Nick Chubb, Paul DePodesta, Continue to Excite Fans

Cleveland was already astir due to the kickoff of training camp last week. Browns fans and players alike have been itching to get the motor running on what most see as a high-octane machine. You just can’t expect a day off from the happenings in Berea, and the powers that be did not disappoint Saturday.

It was common knowledge that discussions were ongoing with the reps for several Browns players including Nick Chubb, but we had no idea who would be signed first or when. Saturday’s announcement caught most of us off-guard like a 70-degree day in December.

Chubb's New Deal

Chubb’s three-year extension is worth $36.6 million with $20 million guaranteed.

The deal makes Chubb the sixth highest paid running back in the league. That’s right. Nick Chubb agreed to a contract that pays him less than five other backs. Credit goes to Andrew Berry, Nick Chubb, and the resurgent Browns for getting this deal done. As great a player, teammate and person Chubb is, this deal doesn’t happen under any other Browns regime.

It is also important to address major misconceptions that exists among NFL fans and analysts. The ideas that you can’t pay a running back and win, and that a running back is the easiest position to replace, simply don’t hold water. People will rattle off previous Super Bowl champs and site the fact that a major running back hasn’t been there recently. That may seem to be evidentiary, but just because something hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

A running back is one player. He hardly handcuffs a team’s payroll all by himself. It is also important who the running back is and where the salary cap is going. Nick Chubb is a generational player and the best pure runner in the league. You don’t just let a guy like that walk. The Browns found a way to make things work. The salary cap is going to rise by $25.7 million for the 2022 season. Salaries will have a corresponding increase. With all things considered, this is a tremendous signing for the Browns.

DePodesta's New Deal

The less noted news of the day was the extension signed by Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta. The contract syncs with the contracts signed by head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry signed last year. All three are now signed through the 2024 season. The Browns franchise has been looking for alignment for years. They finally have it, so extending DePodesta through 2024 makes complete sense. It should also give Browns fans even more peace of mind. 

The Browns organization has made a dramatic turnaround by making smart decisions. They don’t simply do what everyone else does. They aren’t afraid to do anything that they feel is best for the team, yet they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel either. 

What it really comes down to is hard work. Kevin Stefanski has preached work early in camp. It’s obvious that the entire organization has bought into this. It’s not a difficult concept. If you’re smart and you work hard, good things will happen.