Kareem Hunt landing spots: Bills, 49ers among best fits for Browns RB after trade request

Abraham Smith

The Browns are facing another trade request from one of their key offensive players. Kareem Hunt has requested a trade away from Cleveland as he searches for a new contract.

Hunt is in the final year of a two-year, $12 million extension he signed with the Browns in 2020. He will be a free agent after the 2022 season and has previously expressed a desire to remain in Cleveland.

However, Hunt’s view has apparently changed as the Browns are reluctant to give him a new deal. He now wants a chance to play elsewhere and could potentially try to establish himself as a team’s leadback rather than being a high-end backup for Nick Chubb.

Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports that the Browns “have no plans to trade with Hunt,” but it’s worth noting that the Browns have also been steadfast in their desire to keep Baker Mayfield. Cleveland finally got the former No. 1 overall pick in July after months of hoping he would play for them during Deshaun Watson’s suspension.

MORE: Breaking down Kareem Hunt’s trade request and how it’s affecting the Browns

So the Browns may be adamant about their stance on Hunt, but things can change. And if so, there should be plenty of admirers for Hunt, as noted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

But which teams are the best fit for Hunt? Here’s a breakdown of his best landing spots if he does force the Browns to trade him.

Possible landing spots of Kareem hunt

buffalo bills

The Bills put on strong running play in 2021 thanks to quarterback Josh Allen’s mobility. They didn’t have a 1,000-yard rusher, however, as the team relied on a back-by-committee approach until Devin Singletary emerged as the preferred option late in the season.

Singletary has been solid averaging 4.6 yards per carry and totaling 870 yards and seven points, but he only weighs 5-7, 203 pounds. Hunt is much taller at 5-11,216 and could offer the team a real three-back back given his pass-catcher ability.

Hunt would lead the Bills’ depth chart while singletary and rookie James Cook would provide quality at running back. It would be a mutually beneficial relationship, as Hunt could play for a new, lucrative contract in a lead-back role while Buffalo would get its best return since LeSean McCoy’s heyday with the team in 2016.

San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Shanahan’s offense consistently produces quality running backs, so some will argue that’s why the 49ers don’t need Hunt. However, adding a strong, proven running back could come in handy as San Francisco looks to break in rookie quarterback Trey Lance.

Elijah Mitchell was a solid runner as a rookie for the 49ers last year but missed six games with various injuries. Meanwhile, 2021 third-round pick Trey Sermon managed just 41 carries, Jeff Wilson Jr. missed the period with an injury and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, and Tyrion Price-Davis is a third-round rookie .

Hunt would be an instant three-loss starter for the 49ers, while Mitchell would be an excellent No. 2 behind him. Hunt and Mitchell could be the next big double whammy in the NFL like Chubb and Hunt have been over the years. The difference is that when combined with Mitchell, Hunt would be the lead back.

MORE: What’s next for Deshaun Watson, Browns after NFL enters suspension

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are similar to the 49ers in that they have a lot of solid running backs. Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel and Myles Gaskin could form a strong rotation and provide plenty of support for Tua Tagovailoa in a successful year.

Of course, none of Miami’s options are bonafide, #1 backs. Maybe Edmonds can emerge that way, but if the Dolphins want to hedge their bet, they can pursue Hunt to expand their weaponry even further. Miami has been all built around Tua this offseason, so adding Hunt would be a mark of confidence from Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel.

Philly Eagles

No team had more rushing yards in 2021 than the Eagles. They totaled 2,715 yards on the ground and beat the 49ers by 175 yards for the league rushing title. Philadelphia was led by running back Miles Sanders, who averaged 5.5 yards per carry, but he has some flaws in his game.

Sanders struggled with injuries in 2021 that limited him to just 12 games. He also didn’t record a single touchdown, despite recording 163 touches and 20 carries in the red zone.

The Eagles have received red-zone production from Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell and Jordan Howard at the goal-line, so they may be able to count on the former two to carry them in that area this year. Or they could expect Sanders to improve his performance in this area.

If not, acquiring Hunt could be a good move. He was an efficient red zone runner for the Browns (four TDs on 15 red zone carries) and would be an upgrade over Sanders in that area. Having a Hunt/Sanders duo behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines would help Jalen Hurts a lot in his second full season as an Eagles starter.

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Las Vegas robbers

The Raiders might not be a perfect match for Hunt, but new coach Josh McDaniels comes from a Patriots system that values ​​strong running play. It’s unclear if McDaniels is confident that Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake and Zamir White can offer him that.

McDaniels and new Raiders GM Dave Ziegler drafted White, so they obviously like his skills. However, Jacobs and Drake were drafted and signed by the previous regime, so the new Raiders’ trust is not tied to them. If they think Hunt is better than either of them, they could pursue him as a long-term partner for Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow.

Kansas City chiefs

Hunt began his career with the Chiefs in 2017 and won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award during that campaign. However, the Chiefs cut him during the 2018 season after video surfaced of him attacking a woman in a hotel corridor.

It’s unclear if Hunt would be an option for Kansas City given his departure from the team. But if he is, the Chiefs could be chasing him as they don’t have a true No. 1 running back between Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon, Ronald Jones and rookie Isiah Pacheco.

Hunt already knows Andy Reid’s offense, so adding him to the offense would be easy enough.

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