Nick Chubb is the only certainty as the Browns reassess their offensive backfield

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

Fourth in a series.

The blueprint of the Browns’ player transaction season will be written after a thorough evaluation of the roster that coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry inherit from their predecessors.

Stefanski and his coaching staff, and Berry and all the scouts, must have a clear understanding of their own players before they head to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis beginning Feb. 23.

We’re previewing each Browns position group to set up yet another important offseason for the franchise with the longest playoff drought in the NFL.

(Salary information courtesy of overthecap.com)

Running back

Position coach: Stump Mitchell, 60.

One of three assistants from the Freddie Kitchens’ staff retained by Kevin Stefanski. And why not? In his first year with the Browns, he supervised two of the most selfless players on the team – running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Chubb developed into the NFL’s No. 2 rusher with 1,494 rushing yards – fourth-most in franchise history to three totals posted by Jim Brown – and Hunt was integrated into the mix after serving an eight-game suspension. Stefanski’s logic in keeping Mitchell: If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

Players under contract (with projected 2020 salary cap figures in millions)

Nick Chubb ($2.013), D’Ernest Johnson ($.585), Johnny Stanton ($.510).

Players with expiring contracts

Dontrell Hilliard, Kareem Hunt.

Overview

Soon after taking the job, Stefanski remarked that Chubb and Hunt “jump off the film” when he began familiarizing himself with his new players. And then Jan. 21 happened. During an afternoon traffic stop for speeding, police found in Hunt’s car small amounts of marijuana and an unsealed bottle of vodka. Dashcam video disclosed Hunt admitting to an officer that he wouldn’t pass an NFL random drug test. On Feb. 5, owner Jimmy Haslam said, “What he did was not acceptable. He has to do better.” At best, the slip-up may cost Hunt over $1 million. As a restricted free agent, Hunt might have expected to receive the Browns’ second-round tender, which would be worth $3.278 million. Now he might get the original-round tender of $2.144 million. At worst, there could be no tender at all.

What’s needed

Stanton, the first player added in the Stefanski-Andrew Berry regime, is a fascinating prospect. He was a nationally ranked dual-threat quarterback in high school and played quarterback and some linebacker at Nebraska, a junior college and then UNLV. Then he was converted to fullback in the 2018 training camp of the Minnesota Vikings. He was injured that year and spent most of 2019 on their practice squad. While Stefanski asserts, “I have a healthy respect for the fullback position,” it’s probable that a more conventional fullback would be added. Stanton could evolve into a Taysom Hill role as special teams player and multi-dimensional offensive utility player.

(Next: Offensive line)

Part 1: Defensive line.

Part 2: Linebacker.

Part 3: Defensive secondary.