Kareem Hunt represented one of the many big acquisitions for the Cleveland Browns this offseason, but, of course, he comes with a pretty significant caveat in that he will miss the first eight games of the 2019 campaign due to a suspension.
But, the Browns knew what the deal was when they signed Hunt, and with Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson also in the backfield, they have more than enough depth at running back to compensate for his absence.
We know that when Hunt is on the field, he is one of the best halfbacks in the league.
After all, he racked up a league-leading 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry during his rookie year with the Kansas City Chiefs, and through 11 games before all of the controversy surrounding him this past season, he had totaled 824 yards and seven scores while recording 4.6 yards per attempt.
Just imagine what Hunt can bring to a Browns offense that is already loaded as it is.
Here are three goals for the 23-year-old heading into next season.
3. Remain Patient
It will be tough for Hunt to have to watch his teammates for the first eight games of the year, but he needs to understand that he will be eligible to return at the halfway point and will have a whole eight games (plus a potential playoff appearance) to show his stuff.
Hunt is used to being the center of attention on offense and surely thought he would be in a much different spot right now at this point of his career, but he has to live with the consequences of his actions, which means he is going to have to wait a little while before he can officially get back on the field.
The key for Hunt will be to not get discouraged during his time off, as there is a light at the end of the tunnel. He is just 23 years old, so as long as he stays on the straight and narrow, he will have plenty of time to carve out a successful career.
2. Understand He Isn't the Focal Point
Hunt kind of got a taste of this last year while playing with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce, but, at the very least, he was the Chiefs' clear-cut No. 1 back. That won't be the case in Cleveland.
Chubb is coming off a terrific rookie campaign and will likely hold the featured back role even when Hunt returns, and Johnson is no joke as a receiver out of the backfield.
Plus, the Browns have the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and David Njoku in the passing game, so Baker Mayfield will have a ton of options to throw to.
Hunt needs to understand that he will be somewhat limited as far as his touches go, as Cleveland is incredibly deep pretty much everywhere on offense.
Basically, he needs to put his ego aside.
1. Stay Out of Trouble
This is the biggest key, not just for 2019, but for Hunt moving forward in general.
The reason for Hunt's eight-game suspension was because of a video that showed him assaulting a woman outside of a Cleveland hotel in February 2018. The Chiefs immediately released Hunt, and his NFL career was in jeopardy.
Obviously, the Browns have given him a second chance, and Hunt needs to be grateful and realize that while second chances are frequently given, third chances are much less common.
As stated earlier, Hunt is just 23, so he is still a kid and has plenty of room to grow. Let's hope this whole mess ends up serving as a valuable lesson for him going forward.
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