NFL expert Jeremy Fowler gave an update on Chubb and his ongoing free agency during an appearance on ESPN Radio in Cleveland earlier this week. He stated that, barring an unforeseen injury, he does not “expect” Chubb to rejoin the Browns in 2025, but he also stated that the 29-year-old unrestricted free agent is not in a rush to sign a contract.
Fowler remarked, “I know he wants to play and expects to play.” The market for running backs is competitive. These guys are waiting in large numbers. At this moment, I believe they will most likely wait until training camp. They don’t benefit from signing in late May or early June.
In 2024, Chubb had a poor season with the Browns. He participated in just eight games during the early part of the season while recovering from a knee injury that ended his 2023 campaign. He finished with just 332 running yards and three touchdowns in eight games, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per attempt on 102 rushes.
Still, when training camp begins to approach, Fowler said the Bears are one of two teams that would be logical bidders for Chubb in 2025.
According to Fowler, “some teams out there could be in the market for one.” “I think of the Bears or the Commanders. In general, they might need assistance and be searching for an extra back at some time. But at the moment, I believe he’s simply in that state where you look around and see what happens.
Does Nick Chubb’s Tank Still Have Enough Gas?
Some supporters believe that Chubb would be a great addition to the Bears offense as a supplementary rushing partner for starter D’Andre Swift because of his domination with the Browns, which has solidified his reputation as a top talent.
However, there are causes for concern regarding Chubb’s efficacy beyond 2024.
Chubb was an absolute beast for the Browns before to his injury. After missing 1,000 running yards as a rookie in 2018, he fought his way to more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. In 2022, he also set career highs with the Browns, rushing for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns, placing him in the top tier of the league.
But Chubb’s running changed after he recovered from his injury in 2024.
Chubb only managed 113 yards on 42 carries in his first three games back, suggesting that he had not fully recovered even though he had returned to the starting in Week 8 of the previous season. As the season progressed, he began to resemble himself more and became more productive; however, in Week 15, he suffered a foot injury and missed the final three games.
Now, if the Bears believe Chubb’s health is improving going into 2025, they may be prepared to overlook his 2024 deficiencies. In terms of cost, his contract expectations are probably not particularly high either. Even yet, signing him carries some risk, particularly given that the Bears have other rookie contract choices available in the wings
The Bears are still assessing their current running backs for 2025.
Both fans and analysts predict that the Bears will make another move before the 2025 season begins because they were expecting to make a huge splash on a running back in the 2025 NFL draft. However, the Bears’ new coaches are still assessing their present staff and attempting to determine what they now have against what they still require.
Swift remains the number one player at the top of the depth chart. In 2024, he completed nearly 1,000 yards as a rusher and added 386 receiving yards on 42 grabs, but averaging only 3.8 yards per attempt behind a problematic offensive line.
making him a versatile back who ought to be very useful in Ben Johnson’s new scheme.
Who will be Swift’s complement in the Bears’ 2025 rotation is the true question.
Last season, the Bears utilized Roschon Johnson, a 2023 fourth-round pick, as their backup back. He scored a career-high six touchdowns for the Bears and was still a productive pass-catching option, hauling in 16 of 20 receptions for 104 yards, despite his role as a short-yardage/goal-line option keeping his yards-per-carry low (2.6).
The Bears might try seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai as a complementary back in their rotation if their new coaches are less impressed with Johnson. Although he lacks breakaway speed and is now a rawer option than Johnson, his quick cuts and small body (5′ 8″, 211 pounds) may enable him find a job.
At the end of OTAs, the Bears may decide that neither Monangai nor Johnson have done enough to prevent them from searching the free-agent market for more assistance. However, for the time being, the assessments will probably go on until after the minicamp in June.
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