Improved Cleveland Browns Passing Game Could Benefit Nick Chubb

The Cleveland Browns invested heavily in pass-catchers this offseason, but running back Nick Chubb is not concerned about potentially having less of an influence on their offense in 2023.

Chubb has long since been the focal point of the Cleveland attack. Last season, he racked up a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and equalled a career-high 12 rushing touchdowns.

Those numbers were, in part, a product of extremely heavy usage.

Indeed, only two running backs – Derrick Henry (349 attempts) and Josh Jacobs (340) – carried the ball more often than Chubb (302) last season.

But Chubb’s huge workload did not see him sacrifice any efficiency. To the contrary, Chubb led all running backs in Football Outsiders DVOA and DYAR, which measure per-play and total value respectively.

Yet the Browns, in an effort to get Deshaun Watson back to the kind of form that saw him finish fifth in DVOA and DYAR among quarterbacks in 2020, made a series of moves geared towards taking the strain off Chubb.

The Browns traded for talented New York Jets outcast Elijah Moore, giving them an impressive route-runner who can offer inside-out versatility. They also signed Marquise Goodwin as a deep-threat option and used a third-round pick on Cedric Tillman, the former Tennessee Volunteer who provides Cleveland with a big-bodied chain mover with whom Watson could quickly develop a strong rapport.

With that trio joining Amari Cooper – coming off a 1,000-yard debut season in Cleveland – and another promising young wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones, the Browns look to have enough weapons at the receiver position to elicit a turnaround from Watson.

The Browns also have the reliable threat of David Njoku at tight end, and their weaponry at the pass-catching positions should be sufficient for an offense that was 25th in dropback Expected Points Added (EPA) per play with Watson at quarterback last season to greatly improve their efficiency through the air.

It is accepted convention that the passing game is more efficient than the ground game. However, Chubb is giving little thought to potentially taking a backseat to the receiving weapons in the coming seasons if Watson takes some of the desired strides.

Chubb did not find the endzone with Watson on the field last year but, per the Akron Beacon Journal, he said: “You can’t really look at the numbers. Twelve is the most I’ve ever had since I’ve been here. I don’t think it had much to do with it. I think we did have to figure some things out, get the kinks out on offense and I don’t think I’m hindered by Deshaun at all.

“No, I’m not worried at all [about his production dropping off]. I can’t control what I can’t control. When the ball is in my hand, I have full control, so I’m not worried about anything.”

Chubb is wise to keep a calm head about a possible dip in usage and production. It is likely not sustainable for him to continue to carry the ball 300 times a season. A more successful Browns passing game could prolong his career by preventing wear and tear on his body and set an excellent ground attack up for even more success in 2023.

Through five seasons in the NFL, Chubb has compiled an extremely compelling case for being considered the best pure runner in the league. The numbers might not be as substantial in 2023 but, if defenses have to pay more respect to the Browns’ passing game this season, the impact of his undoubtedly elite talents could become even more devastating in his sixth campaign.