Kareem Hunt

Colts In Communication With RBs Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette

September 15th, 2023 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

With their Jonathan Taylor-less backfield still in flux due to injuries, the Colts remain interested in a free agent addition at the running back spot. As a result, they are in talks with two of the top options still available.

Indianapolis has communicated with both Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The former met with the Colts last month as part of his late-offseason free agent tour, though no deal materialized. Hunt also drew interest from the Saints and Vikings, but they too elected not to sign him in advance of the regular season.

The former Chief and Brown was reported to have received four offers around the time of final roster cuts, but he has remained patient on the open market. Hunt would have a path to immediate playing time with the Colts for the time being, giving the absence of Taylor until at least Week 5. That is the earliest point at which the 2021 rushing champion can suit up in Indianapolis, though a trade sending him elsewhere is still in the cards. A lead role will be unlikely for Hunt in 2023, however, barring further injury developments around the league.

The same holds true for Fournette, whose release request was granted by the Buccaneers in February. The 28-year-old lost his starting role to Rachaad White in the 2022 campaign, and in the wake of Tom Brady‘s retirement, he favored a fresh start. Not much in the way of interest was shown in him through the offseason, however, with the Patriots hosting him on a workout but coming away unimpressed with his conditioning. It will be interesting to see if the Colts’ interest rises to the point of bringing him in for a free agent visit in the near future.

Indianapolis lost another member of its backfield in Week 1 with Evan Hull suffering a knee injury. He is now on IR and will thus miss at least the next four weeks of the season. The fifth-round rookie’s absence adds to Taylor’s stay on the PUP list, and questions remain regarding when Zack Moss will be able to suit up after recovering from a broken arm. The Colts worked out Darrell Henderson earlier this week, so Hunt and Fournette will have competition for a roster spot if they match the team’s interest in a potential deal. In any case, a move at the RB spot could be coming soon in Indianapolis.

Latest On RB Kareem Hunt

August 30th, 2023 at 5:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Teams around the NFL are currently occupied with roster gymnastics, but a few big-name free agents have still yet to land a deal of any kind over the course of the offseason. One of those is running back Kareem Hunt, who continues to draw interest.

Four teams have made an offer to the 28-year-old recently, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. None have been sufficient to produce an agreement, though, despite the actions of teams like the Saints, Colts and Vikings. Each of those clubs hosted Hunt on a free agent visit, and New Orleans in particular was reported to be prepared to sign him pending the result of a physical.

Instead, the former rushing champion remains unsigned like a number of veteran backs. The position has seen its financial value take another hit this offseason, and it comes as little surprise that Hunt needed to wait deep into free agency for tangible interest to pick up. He spent the past four years in Cleveland, splitting handoffs with Nick Chubb and operating as an effective pass-catcher. Hunt averaged 4.2 yards per carry with the Browns, totaling 973 yards and seven touchdowns on 132 catches during his tenure with the team.

It can likely be presumed that New Orleans, Indianapolis and Minnesota represent three of the four offers Hunt has weighed but ultimately turned down. Even without Alvin Kamara for the first three games of the season, the Saints have a number of options in their backfield, one which will be crowded after the five-time Pro Bowler’s return. The Colts still have Jonathan Taylor in the fold after a trade could not be worked out (though he will start the year on the PUP list). The Vikings, meanwhile, added pass-catcher Myles Gaskin earlier today to give them an experienced depth option behind starter Alexander Mattison.

Hunt still has time to find an opportunity which will yield a 53-man roster spot and notable playing time. He will need to move quickly, however, if he is to have a deal in place by the time the regular season kicks off. If the interest which has existed in recent weeks continues, an agreement could be coming soon.

Vikings Host RB Kareem Hunt

August 11th, 2023 at 10:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Kareem Hunt‘s free agency tour continues. After visiting with the Saints and Colts earlier this week, the running back is meeting with the Vikings today, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

It was relatively quiet on the Hunt front until earlier this week, when the veteran running back was in New Orleans and Indianapolis for visits. He left both of those workouts with contracts, but it’s now clear Hunt is weighing multiple opportunities before making a decision.

Hunt found a home in Cleveland over the past four seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. His 2022 campaign started with a trade request and ended with him averaging a career-low 9.3 touches per game in 17 games for Cleveland, and he’s remain unsigned through this point of the offseason.

Similar to both the Saints and Colts, the Vikings could offer Hunt a somewhat significant role on offense. Alexander Mattison is expected to take over for Dalvin Cook in the backfield, but the team lacks experienced depth behind their new starter. Ty Chandler got into three games as a rookie, Kene Nwangwu has been injured during training camp, and rookie seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride is likely destined for a ST role.

Hunt’s pass-catching ability could make him a worthy third-down option, and he’s shown the ability to be productive in a starting role while filling in for Nick Chubb in Cleveland. The Vikings are currently armed with more than $10MM in cap space, providing them with some financial might over Hunt’s other two suitors. The Saints reportedly backloaded their offer to Hunt with incentives while keeping the total amount roughly on par with what the Colts are prepared to pay without bonuses.

Colts Sign Two Free Agents; RB Kareem Hunt Leaves Without Deal

August 9th, 2023 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

The Colts made a few transactions today including the signings of running back Jason Huntley and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, according to the team’s Twitter account. While the added depth is surely appreciated, it is likely a bit disappointing for Colts fans following the free agency activity surrounding running back Kareem Hunt.

Shortly after leaving New Orleans without a new contract, Indianapolis becomes the second straight visit that doesn’t result in a deal for the veteran rusher, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Hunt reportedly had a “great” visit with the Saints before making his way up to Indiana. The two locations he’s visited recently have situations that could allow for some early playing time. The Saints will be down a running back as Alvin Kamara serves a three-game suspension to start the year due to his role in a violent altercation a year and a half ago. New Orleans does still have a strong rusher at the top of the depth chart after signing Jamaal Williams this offseason, but the depth behind Williams is fairly inexperienced.

The Colts, on the other hand, may be getting a little desperate. Jonathan Taylor took his holdout to another level yesterday, leaving camp to rehabilitate his ankle injury. As backups Zack Moss and Deon Jackson are dealing with their own injuries, the Colts are currently relying only on recent signee Kenyan Drake and a trio of inexperienced options.

Hunt reportedly fielded offers from both teams with guaranteed money proving to be the main difference. While offering around the same amount that the Colts are expected to pay, the Saints’ deal includes more incentives that will make Hunt earn the money without guarantees.

Huntley and Seals-Jones appear to be depth signings to help Indianapolis make it through the preseason healthy. Huntley has only appeared in six games over his first three NFL seasons after getting drafted in the fifth round by the Eagles. He only has 18 rushes for 70 yards in his young career.

Seals-Jones likely has a better chance to push for a roster spot in 2023. Mo Alie-Cox and Jelani Woods are both dealing with injuries heading into the preseason, and Seals-Jones has some solid experience. Appearing in games for four teams over his five years in the league, Seals-Jones has seen spurts of success throughout his career. The converted college wide receiver saw career-highs in 2018 in receptions (34) and receiving yards (343) and caught four touchdowns the following year. Only two seasons ago, he started six games in Washington. He missed all of last season while dealing with a toe injury but could bring some quality starting experience for the Colts if healthy.

In order to make room on the roster for Huntley and Seals-Jones, the Colts waived/injured tight end La’Michael Pettway and safety Michael Tutsie.

Colts To Meet With RB Kareem Hunt

August 9th, 2023 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 9: Adding further to Russini’s report, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com tweets that guaranteed money represented the difference in New Orleans’ and Indianapolis’ offers. The Saints backloaded their proposal with incentives, while keeping the total amount roughly on par with what the Colts are prepared to pay. With more money (and, potentially, playing time) available up front, it comes as little surprise that Hunt will at least consider a deal in Indianapolis.

AUGUST 8: Kareem Hunt‘s late-summer free agency tour will include a stop in Indianapolis. The Colts are set to meet with the former rushing champion Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Although Hunt enjoyed a “great” Saints visit, he will make a trip to meet with a team that features a greater running back need. The Colts remain without Jonathan Taylor, have lost backup Zack Moss to a broken arm, and fellow reserve Deon Jackson is also dealing with an unspecified injury.

Just ahead of Hunt’s Saints workout, per ESPN’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter), the Colts contacted him with what is believed to be a better offer. It is unclear what Indianapolis is proposing, but the six-year veteran will meet with the team to determine a fit.

Indianapolis has already signed Kenyan Drake. Hunt would represent another veteran option for the suddenly RB-deficient outfit. While Hunt arrived as a Chiefs draft pick months after Chris Ballard had joined the Colts as GM, the latter was with Kansas City in the months leading up to the 2017 offseason.

Hunt, who turned 28 on Sunday, played out a two-year, $12MM Browns deal. The former Pro Bowler did not miss any games last season but did not enjoy a particularly productive campaign. This and the running back market’s myriad obstacles have impacted Hunt’s 2023 value. After teams expressed trade interest in the former third-round pick before last year’s deadline, Hunt now looms as an emergency depth option midway through training camp.

Operating again as Nick Chubb‘s backup, Hunt totaled just 678 scrimmage yards. He averaged a career-low 3.8 per carry. This came after the Cleveland-area native finished with a 4.9-yard average in 2021. Teams are determining how much tread Hunt has left on his tires. He has only logged 1,106 career touches — far less than fellow UFAs Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook — but he was less productive than either ex-NFCer in 2022.

The Colts have seen Jonathan Taylor request a trade and now leave camp for rehab purposes on a slow-healing ankle. Rumored to be using this ankle recovery as a hold-in excuse, Taylor has since left Colts camp to go through additional rehab more than six months after undergoing what was thought to be a minor surgery. The Colts will be without Moss until at least Week 1. While a Taylor trade is not expected, the Colts are digging into an insurance option.

A backfield housing Taylor, Hunt, Drake and Moss would seemingly be untenable for Indianapolis, which may factor into Hunt’s free agency decision — assuming he is weighing more than one offer. For now, however, the Colts are in need. At full strength, the Saints are also sporting a crowded RB corps. Alvin Kamara will be eligible to return in October, and the team signed Jamaal Williams and drafted Kendre Miller in Round 3.

No Saints Deals In Place For RB Kareem Hunt, LB Anthony Barr

August 8th, 2023 at 2:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

2:59pm: Not so fast. Both players departed their New Orleans visits without deals in place. The Saints remain interested in the nine-year vet, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets other teams have emerged as potential options as well. It is unclear which teams are in on Barr, who could still end up with the Saints. For now, however, no agreement has been reached. Ditto Hunt, who is set for a Colts visit Wednesday.

11:17am: One day after news of their workouts was learned, both Kareem Hunt and Anthony Barr are set to head to New Orleans. The Saints are expected to sign both veterans pending a physical, reports ESPN’s Dianna Russini (Twitter link).

Barr met with the Saints yesterday, while Hunt’s visit was scheduled for today. To little surprise, the interest shown by the team has quickly resulted in agreements being reached. Neither player had generated much of a market for their services during the offseason, but they will now have plenty of time to acclimate to their new team.

Especially to begin the year, New Orleans will be shorthanded in the backfield. Alvin Kamara was issued a three-game suspension for his involvement in a violent altercation in February 2022, which will leave the Saints without the five-time Pro Bowler. Eno Benjamin, meanwhile, will not be available at any point this campaign after he suffered an Achilles tear.

Hunt will look to serve in a similar capacity to his Browns tenure during his Saints stint. The 28-year-old operated as a consistent pass-catching back while Nick Chubb handled much of the team’s carries. Hunt still logged 442 carries in his 49 games in Cleveland, though, averaging 4.2 yards per rush in the process. If needed, he could handle a notable workload in his new home.

The Browns looked likely to move Hunt at the trade deadline, but he instead needed to wait until August to join a new team. In addition to Kamara, though, New Orleans boasts free agent signing Jamaal Williams and third-round rookie Kendre Miller in its new-look backfield. It will be interesting to watch how Hunt fits in during Kamara’s absence and how much of a role he is able to carve out upon the latter’s return.

Barr, meanwhile, is set to be on the move for the second time in as many years. His eight-year Vikings tenure ended last offseason, and the former first-rounder played in Dallas in 2022. Barr saw his playing time cut significantly compared to most of his Minnesota campaigns, and his lowered production helped keep him on the market deep into the summer.

The Saints have a number of options at the linebacker spot as is, with Demario Davis in place as an anchor of the team’s defense. 2021 second-rounder Pete Werner saw a sizeable jump in playing time last season, and he can be expected to remain a full-time starter moving forward. Recent draftees Zack Baun and D’Marco Jackson (the latter of whom missed his entire rookie season due to injury) are also in the mix for significant snaps. Barr will look to prove himself to be at least a quality rotational member of the unit.

The Saints entered today with just under $13MM in cap space, which should be enough to comfortably afford Hunt and Barr on what will no doubt be short-term, low-cost deals. Both players will add considerable experience to what is already one of the most veteran-laden teams in the league as the they aim to rebuild their free agent stock in a new setting.

Saints To Host RB Kareem Hunt, LB Anthony Barr

August 7th, 2023 at 8:41am CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of being shorthanded in the backfield, the Saints could soon be making a running back addition. Kareem Hunt is set to meet with New Orleans, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). His colleague Diana Russini tweets that veteran linebacker Anthony Barr will also work out with the team.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes that the Hunt visit will take place on Tuesday (Twitter link). That summit could result in a deal for the recently-turned 28-year-old, who has remained one of the top backs on the open market throughout the offseason. New Orleans will be without Alvin Kamara for the first three weeks of the campaign due to suspension, and Eno Benjamin recently suffered an Achilles tear. As a result, a vacancy exists in the team’s backfield.

The Saints already have a veteran presence in the form of Jamaal Williams, along with third-round rookie Kendre Miller as fill-in options for Kamara while he is sidelined and depth when he returns. That would leave Hunt in a rotational role after Week 4 in particular if he were to sign in New Orleans, something he experienced during his time in Cleveland. Hunt saw a career-low 42% snap share last season while serving as Nick Chubb‘s pass-catching backup, and by the end of the season it was clear he would be heading elsewhere in free agency.

Hunt was mentioned in trade talk leading up to the deadline, but the Browns elected to retain him to close out his fourth season in Cleveland. The former Chiefs third-rounder has not received as much attention as the likes of Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott from potential suitors, but he has remained confident a deal will come to fruition. Hunt, like most remaining backs, is likely facing a low-cost deal which will allow him boost his market in a new environment.

Like many Vikings veterans this offseason, Barr saw a lengthy Minnesota tenure come to an end last year. The four-time Pro Bowler spent the 2022 campaign in Dallas, but the Cowboys made it clear in March that he would not be retained. Barr posted 58 tackles and one sack across 14 games last year, numbers which fall short of his production during his peak Vikings seasons.

Barr, 31, would provide experienced depth to a Saints’ linebacking corps which is set to once again be led by Demario Davis. The former only logged a 63% snap share in Dallas last season, by far the lowest of any of his healthy campaigns in the league. Like Hunt, he could be at least a rotational contributor with a veteran-laden team seeking to return to the postseason. Strong seasons from Hunt and Barr, should they join the Saints, could benefit both player and team on low-cost, short-term agreements.

Latest On Free Agent RB Kareem Hunt

June 22nd, 2023 at 9:21pm CST by Ben Levine

While Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott have commanded the headlines, there’s another former Pro Bowl running back who remains unsigned. With only weeks remaining until training camps open, Kareem Hunt is still a free agent. However, the veteran running back isn’t sweating his current status and expects to be on an NFL roster sooner than later.

Lae“I’m just being patient,” Hunt told Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “I’ve had some things come up. But right now, I’m enjoying my time with my family. I’m training and working hard and just staying ready.

“I’m not frustrated at all. It’s going to work itself out. Right now I’m just here to enjoy time with my family and show these kids a good time at this football camp. I know it’s all going to work out at the end of the day.”

Hunt found a home in Cleveland over the past four seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. The former third-round pick has continually served as the RB2 in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb, an arrangement that worked out for Hunt through his first three seasons with the organization. However, Hunt started to express displeasure about his role heading into his contract season, resulting in a public trade request. Hunt ended up sticking in Cleveland and saw a career-low 9.3 touches per game during the 2022 campaign.

The Browns haven’t done much to improve their RB corps this offseason, and with D’Ernest Johnson off to Jacksonville, former fifth-round pick Jerome Ford is set to be the top backup behind Chubb. While Hunt wasn’t particularly happy with his role in 2022, he didn’t completely shut the door on a return to Cleveland.

“The Browns are always going to be a team I have mad love for, but I’m not really talking about that stuff,” Hunt said. “I’m enjoying my time at this football camp and focused on my body and my mind. I’m in God’s hands and just looking forward to the next opportunity. It’ll be coming up soon, I’m pretty sure.”

Heading into what should be his age-28 season, Hunt will likely find a landing spot once injuries hit and teams get a longer look at their running back depth.

Commanders Looking Into RB Kareem Hunt

June 16th, 2023 at 9:34am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite coming up in steady trade rumors ahead of last year’s deadline, Kareem Hunt has not been closely tied to teams during a three-month free agency stay. That has since changed.

The Commanders are looking into the former rushing champion, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. Washington has made preliminary inquiries into Hunt, who recently played out his second Browns contract (Twitter link).

A clear Commanders-Hunt connection exists, with new OC Eric Bieniemy having been the former third-rounder’s position coach when the Chiefs drafted him in 2017. Prior to spending five seasons as Kansas City’s OC, Bieniemy oversaw Hunt’s rookie-year surge as RBs coach, helping him to the ’17 rushing title. Hunt, who won that crown with 1,327 yards, soared to a stronger start in 2018; his career path changed after a video showed him assaulting a woman at a Cleveland hotel.

While Hunt did not match his Chiefs showing with the Browns, he formed one of the league’s top backfield duos of this era by playing alongside Nick Chubb. Following Hunt’s eight-game suspension to start the 2019 season, Hunt worked as a 1-B option behind Cleveland’s perennial Pro Bowl starter. The Browns used Hunt more in the passing game, though he only topped 500 rushing yards in one of his Cleveland seasons (2020, with 841).

Prior to that 2020 season, the Browns gave Hunt a two-year, $13MM deal. That deal checked in much lower than Chubb’s (three years, $36.6MM) and Hunt’s top peers from the 2017 draft class. With the likes of James Conner, Leonard Fournette and Chase Edmonds passing Hunt in running back AAV, the then-Browns back requested a trade last year. As they looked to retain talent around Deshaun Watson, the Browns held off on dealing Hunt. The Eagles and Jets checked on the veteran at the deadline, but the Browns again held onto their talented backup.

Washington returns its Brian Robinson–Antonio Gibson backfield tandem, with the latter going into a contract year. Ron Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew are believed to be prioritizing a power run game, with rumblings of disagreements on this front with since-ousted OC Scott Turner coming out in January. The Commanders already ranked fourth in carries last season (538), but with the team now preparing to give the untested Sam Howell a legitimate starter opportunity, providing backfield support would make sense. The team did, however, use a sixth-round pick on a back (Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez).

At this juncture, Hunt will have a hard time even matching that $6.5MM-AAV accord he landed in Cleveland. The RB market did not produce a single $6.5MM-per-year deal this offseason, and teams’ free agency budgets are obviously depleted by June. Hunt also averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season — by far a career-worst mark. Neither Robinson nor Gibson topped 4.0 per tote, either, but Hunt’s disappointing contract year undoubtedly led to teams looking elsewhere earlier this offseason.

Browns Not Expected To Re-Sign Kareem Hunt; Team Eyeing Larger Role For RB Jerome Ford

April 9th, 2023 at 2:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns upgraded their receiver room earlier in the offseason with the trade acquisition of Elijah Moore, but the team has yet to make any moves in the backfield. That has left Kareem Hunt on the open market with an uncertain future, but one which appears poised to lead him out of Cleveland.

The veteran back has not received any interest from potential suitors, as noted by Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. That comes as little surprise in one sense, given the buyer’s market which existed this year in free agency at the running back position even after the usage of three franchise tags. As a result, few notable contracts have been signed and a number of accomplished players will likely need to wait until after the draft to catch on to a new team.

Part of Cleveland’s lack of a new contract offer for Hunt, Pluto notes, was the team’s evaluation that he had slowed during the 2022 campaign. The 27-year-old averaged a career-worst 3.8 yards per attempt on 123 carries last season, which gives credence to that conclusion and the decision by other teams to look elsewhere. Hunt did record 210 yards and one touchdown in the passing game, however, which could given him two-way value in his next NFL home.

The former Chiefs draftee requested a trade last offseason in advance of a campaign spent as Nick Chubb‘s backup while trying to generate free agent value. It appeared likely, in the days leading up to the deadline, that the Browns would be able to deal him to a contender, but they ultimately retained him. Now, both player and club are poised to move in different directions.

Pluto writes that the Browns’ preference is to give the No. 2 RB job to Jerome Ford. The 2022 fifth-rounder received only eight carries on offense as a rookie, but he operated as the team’s primary kick returner. Ford totaled 723 yards on 30 returns, good for an average of 24.1 yards per runback. That could translate into effective production as a pass-catching backup to Chubb, though carries could be available as well for Ford in 2023. The Browns lost former third-stringer D’Ernest Johnson to the Jaguars in free agency, leaving a vacancy which would be made more notable in the event Hunt were to indeed head elsewhere.

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