The Cleveland Browns have an interesting group of running backs going into the 2022 season. Nick Chubb leads the way with Kareem Hunt as his backup despite being a capable and proven starting level running back in the league.
D’Ernest Johnson showed what he could do stepping in for both Chubb and Hunt in 2021. While he hasn’t signed his restricted free agent tender or a long-term contract with the Browns, Johnson cannot negotiate with another team at this point.
Fourth on the depth chart, seemingly, is second-year man Demetric Felton.
As a rookie, Felton played in 16 games with 130 snaps on offense and 201 snaps on special teams. The UCLA product showed flashes in the passing game with 18 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball seven times for 24 yards and returned 32 punts and nine kicks.
When Cleveland drafted Jerome Ford in the 2022 NFL draft, it called into question what would happen with five quality running backs. While some suggested a trade of Hunt or that the team might lose Johnson, moving Felton to receiver full time made sense as well.
Max Paulus, the college scout sent to talk to the media about the Ford pick, was asked about that possibility. He reiterated what GM Andrew Berry has said that Felton would remain at running back:
If that is true, Johnson signs, no one is traded and everyone stays healthy, the Browns would carry five running backs into the season.
While Berry and Paulus may continue to say Felton will stay in the running back room, in the second week of OTAs, he was not with that group:
#Browns RB group on Wednesday. D Felton is now with WRs pic.twitter.com/LOYTDMmpvl
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) June 1, 2022
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In the end, injury, a trade or poor performance could clear space for just four backs but moving Felton, technically or just in use, to receiver would work as well. Given his usage last year, that was his role primarily on top of kick returner.
With Amari Cooper, Donovan-Peoples Jones, Anthony Schwartz, David Bell and Jakeem Grant at receiver, Cleveland has a few veterans and rookies competing to make the roster. It is possible they are also competing with Felton as well.
As Paulus notes, the team values flexibility but it will be interesting if any other running backs are seen working primarily with the receiver group this offseason.