Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt has been talking about his future with the organisation ahead of the 2022 NFL season. 

The Cleveland Browns are certainly going through something of a chaotic offseason this time around, as not only do they have to deal with the controversy that is surrounding presumed starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and his accusations of sexual misconduct, they are struggling to get rid of last season’s starter Baker Mayfield despite reports that there are teams out there who are willing to bring him on board. 

And beyond the quarterback spot, there was the recent injury scare surrounding star cornerback Denzel Ward. All of this whilst trying to put together a roster that can help them to compete in the AFC North once again after finishing 8-9 in 2020. 

The last thing that they need is to be fretting over the long-term future of one of their key offensive weapons, but that’s the situation surrounding Kareem Hunt as he gets ready to enter the 2022 season.

One-half of the two-headed monster

Part of the success behind the Browns’ recent rise to prominence in the league has been the success of their run game, headed up by the duo of Hunt and Nick Chubb in the backfield, especially in 2020 when Chubb ran for 1,041 yards on 190 carries, whilst Hunt bagged 841 on 198. 

Chubb received his due back in 2021 when he signed a 3-year extension worth $36.6m, but despite putting up 1,406 total rushing yards and 13 touchdowns during his time in Cleveland, as well as a further 763 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, as it stands this is set to be his final year at First Energy Stadium.

But judging by his comments, he doesn’t want that to be the case.

What’s he said?

As posted on Twitter by Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, he hopes to get a new deal done with the team and hopes to stay in Cleveland for the foreseeable future. However judging by his comments, it seems as if the Browns haven’t made their intentions clear right now as to what they want to do with him:

Last year saw Hunt miss a large portion of the season with a calf injury that cost him half the season, so perhaps the Browns are waiting to see how he recovers from that injury before they decide what they do with him moving forward.

But if he’s able to produce at anything like the Hunt of 2020, then it’s pretty clear there’s only one course of action for the Browns to take. Although will the Browns risk waiting that long before getting the deal done?