Kareem Hunt is one of the top NFL free agents available this summer and he could finally have a suitor with the Washington Commanders reportedly emerging as an option for him.
Hunt, a 2017 Pro Bowl selection, is entering his age-28 season. He served as the backup to Nick Chubb with the Cleveland Browns, taking over on passing downs and playing a more prominent role on the ground when Chubb was injured or needed a breather.
- Kareem Hunt stats (2022): 678 scrimmage yards, 3.8 yards per carry in 17 games
However, Hunt has experienced what many of his peers are going through. NFL teams haven’t dipped into the pool of running backs in free agency in recent months, but that could soon change with training camp approaching.
According to Josina Andersson of CBS Sports, the Commanders have quietly made “preliminary inquiries” into Hunt. While it’s unknown if it will lead to a visit or a deal, there’s interest in the veteran running back.
While the Commanders already have a short-yardage back in Brian Robinson Jr and Antonio Gibson is expected to be the third-down back, Hunt thrived with the Kansas City Chiefs when Eric Bieniemy was the running backs coach (2017) then offensive coordinator (2018-’22).
As a rookie in Kansas City, Hunt led the NFL in rushing yards (1,327) and earned a Pro Bowl selection after accumulating 1,782 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. The following year, he accounted for 1,202 scrimmage yards and a career-high 14 touchdowns.
In his first three seasons with the Browns, Hunt racked up over 2,100 scrimmage yards in 32 games with 19 total touchdowns. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 319 attempts and totaled 97 receptions for 763 receiving yards over that span.
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However, Hunt’s effectiveness plummeted in 2022. He averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry and 4.3 yards per touch. Of greater concern, per Player Profiler, he ranked 60th in true yards per carry (3.7), 38th in yards created (404), 31st in yards per route run (0.87) and ranked 37th in breakaway run rate (4.1 percent).
The opportunity to reunite with Bieniemy and land a role in the Commanders’ backfield could prove enticing to Hunt. With Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott both preferred options by multiple teams in free agency, Washington might be Hunt’s best landing spot.
Related: Cleveland Browns not interested in Kareem Hunt reunion for one reason