Reporter expands on Browns' Nick Chubb signing reworked contract

For an article updated on Monday morning, columnist Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer offered more information about the reworked contract that the Cleveland Browns and fan-favorite running back Nick Chubb agreed to last week. 

According to Pluto, Chubb's deal counts only $6.25M on the salary cap for the 2024 NFL season. 

"I tried to find out how much of the deal is fully guaranteed. I heard it’s less than the $6.25M, but considerably more than $2M," Pluto explained. "...I contacted one NFL executive about what Chubb would receive on the open market from another team. He mentioned $2M guaranteed for injury, and that would probably be it. There would be a lot of incentives in his new deal that could take him up to $12.2M."

Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who suffered a torn ACL, torn MCL, torn meniscus and torn medial capsule on Sept. 18 of last year. It's unknown when the veteran, who turned 28 years old in December, will be cleared for contact, but Pluto mentioned that the Browns "structured the deal so Chubb doesn’t have to rush back to action" for Week 1. 

Cleveland also has Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines on the roster for the position. Per ESPN stats, Ford led the 2023 Browns with 204 carries and 813 rushing yards. The 24-year-old also rushed for four touchdowns across 17 regular-season games. 

It was thought as far back as this past fall that the Browns could release Chubb before the upcoming draft, in part because his old contract included no guaranteed money for 2024. 

However, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted in February that individuals within the organization such as team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam understood that "money isn’t everything" as it pertained to Chubb's future. 

"The Browns believe Chubb is a huge part of their team in terms of his character and quiet leadership," one unnamed NFL source told Pluto. "They want him to have a shot to come back without being irresponsible with their dollars. I doubt they would have done this for any running back except Chubb."

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Deshaun Watson could both be facing a make-or-break season coming off Cleveland's humiliating 45-14 wild-card playoff loss at the Houston Texans in January. 

Both will be hoping Chubb can reclaim his best form at some point during the fall, but it's still far too early to know what he will and/or won't be following his devastating injury.