The Cleveland Browns have a storied history at the running back position dating back to their inaugural season of 1946.
The Browns and their fans have embraced the running game like few franchises, starting with Marion Motley terrorizing defenses and continuing through Jim Brown, Greg Pruitt, Kevin Mack, Earnest Byner, and Nick Chubb.
Related: NFL Draft Profile: TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
The situation is a bit different at the moment, however, as Cleveland currently has just Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. on the roster, while Chubb lurks in the shadows as a free agent.
The running back group is considered robust in the 2025 NFL Draft, and if the Browns want to select a player that fits the stereotype of a “blue-collar Cleveland” player that fans would enjoy, they might consider Cam Skattebo of Arizona State.
Name: Cam Skattebo
Position: Running back
Height/Weight: 5-foot-9, 219 pounds
College: Arizona State Sun Devils
2024 Stats: 13 games, 293 rushes, 1,711 rushing yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 21 rushing touchdowns, 45 receptions, 605 receiving yards, 13.4 yards per catch, 3 receiving touchdowns
Career Stats: 709 rushes, 4,386 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 43 rushing touchdowns, 112 receptions, 1,386 receiving yards, 12.4 yards per catch, 8 receiving touchdowns
Average “Big Board” Position As of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database:77th overall, projected third round
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Day 2 - Adequate Starter
What an Expert is Saying
Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:
Carnage creator with a compact frame and elite contact balance. Skattebo can break through second-level tacklers and careen off of bodies for extended yards after contact. He reads his blocks quickly and is more elusive in the early stages of the run than he’s probably given credit for. He lacks top-end speed and will have to contend with bigger, better tacklers on the next level. Skattebo’s effectiveness as a receiver out of the backfield should add to his draft value. His physicality and edge should bode well for him as a complementary back with three-down value who is capable of helping an offense wear down the defense.
What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):
Keith Sanchez at The Draft Network:
As a runner, Skattebo has a wide base that provides a good foundation for contact balance and the ability to bounce off defenders trying to tackle him. Skattebo’s violent run nature is evident in how he can utilize stiff arms and bring contact to defenders by lowering his shoulder—he prefers to initiate the contact. Skattebo plays with good pad level which translates to him being a good option for short-yardage opportunities, but he has a way of creating his own big plays by continuing to fall forward to pick up significant yardage.
Outside of Skattebo’s physical run nature, he also has good vision and instincts as a runner. From the handoff, Skattebo does a good job of scanning the line of scrimmage for openings and creases. Skattebo has the athleticism to make jump cuts and cut back against the flow of the play to find an opening backside. Into the second level of the defense, Skattebo has a surprising burst that helps accelerate to his top speed quickly and allows him to convert plays from five-yard rushes to 20-plus-yard gains. Into the third level, Skattebo doesn’t have the speed to sustain separation from defenders with top-end speed but upon being brought to the ground, Skattebo does a good job of throwing stiff arms and making it difficult for defenders to tackle him—in the process picking up extra yardage past their initial contact.
Fit with the Browns
Head coach Kevin Stefanski and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will look to build a strong run game to set up play-action passes. Skattebo’s power running will play nicely in the AFC North, and also being an asset in the passing game makes him a player that should catch some attention from the Browns.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
As we mentioned at the opening, Cleveland’s current running back room is almost as bare as the quarterback room. Even if the Browns bring back Chubb, they will likely still draft a running back, which puts Strong or exclusive rights free agent John Kelly Jr. on the bubble.
Priority: Upper-medium. A reliable running game can be a rookie quarterback’s best friend, and that is also true for whatever “bridge quarterback” the Browns roll with this fall. Expect general manager Andrew Berry to address the position at some point in the draft.
What are your thoughts on Cam Skattebo? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.