The Browns have agreed to trade running back Carlos Hyde to the Jaguars in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a blockbuster deal that gives the Jaguars a proven tailback in the absence of starter Leonard Fournette. 
Just eight months ago, Hyde signed a three-year, $15MM free agent deal with the Browns to become their No. 1 running back. But, with a pair of talented options behind him on the depth chart, the Browns pounced on the opportunity to build on their draft capital while taking a significant salary off the books.
Through six games this year, Hyde hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. He’s averaged just 3.4 yards per carry this year – a career low – though he does have five rushing touchdowns on his stat line.
Prior to joining the Browns, Hyde spent the first four years of his career with the 49ers and served as the starting running back for the final three. All in all, he averaged a solid 4.2 yards per carry in SF and a strong 4.6 yards per attempt in 2016. Hyde also offers capable hands, as evidenced by his 59 catches for 350 yards last season.
In conjunction with T.J. Yeldon, Hyde should provide the Jaguars with a competent rushing game for however long Fournette is sidelined. However, Hyde can hardly be expected to be a panacea for what ails Jacksonville. Blake Bortles‘ inconsistency is clearly costing the Jags as they’re 1-3 in their last four games. In those contests, Bortles has thrown just four touchdown passes against six picks. He’s also been sacked 13 times, so the Jags’ offensive line will have to do better in order to keep defenses honest and open holes for their new running back.
With Hyde out of the picture, the Browns should be able to increase rookie Nick Chubb‘s workload. Browns fans have good reason to be excited about the Georgia product after he amassed 105 yards and two touchdowns off of just two carries in Week 4 against the Raiders. Pass-catching wizard Duke Johnson also figures to get more touches in the team’s revamped backfield.
Guess the Browns wanted to get more touched for Chubb
touches*
So close
Lol yeah that was quick
what a great typo
Touched for Chubb
Browns fans are definitely touched
Makes sense for Cleveland let Chubb have more touches. It seems like he could be a productive back and Hyde’s contract is off the books. Chubb is on a cheap rookie deal so it make sense economically
Touching Chubbs
I think this is more about Duke than Chubbs.
Usually I like to get touches for my Duke to get to Chubbs.
Just picked up Chubb in both my fantasy leagues. He looks primed to breakout now 🙂
Inserted my Chubb into the lineup
Wonder if Fournette is going to be out longer than originally anticipated?
Surprised only a 5th in return ??? Shoulda shopped him around more
Don’t need him, frees up cap space, nobody else would have paid more so overall a fair mid-season return for a free agent
The Cleveland clowns doing what they normally do.
Yup
What does this do for Hyde’s fantasy value? Better RB situation or worse in JAX
Better while Fournette is out and worse after he comes back
The problem is that he’s not going to play this week, so that means he has 1 good fantasy week left this season until Fournette comes back (if you believe that he won’t play this weekend and Fournette will be back after their bye).
Looks like the browns are back to normal
This seems like an odd move, especially for such a low pick. Was this really the only way to get Chubb more touches? There was no way to play both guys? Especially when we don’t even know if Chubb is good yet. He has a great ypc, but on only 16 carries. It’s impossible to reach any kind of opinion based on such a tiny sample size
And what will that 5th round pick turn out to be? Probably a backup CB that plays special teams.
They saved 11.75 in cap space over 3 years. And picked up a 5th round pick. Everyone thought it was a bad signing to begin with. This was an easy out. You get this offer across your desk you take it. Hyde is not going to help you this year, and unlikely the next 2 since his Y/A is down the last 3 years.