On April 25th through the April 27th the NFL will be holding the College Football Draft. Many prospects will be analyzed between today and draft weekend. Mock drafts and analysis will be posted ad nauseum on NFL fan sites, I wanted to do something different. As a beat reporter and lifetime Cleveland Browns fan. I anticipate the Cleveland Browns drafting a running back. I want to look at a prospect that is on the Browns radar.

Notre Dame Running Back Audric Estime’ is a prototypical AFC North Running Back. He is 5’11” 227 lbs. and will turn 21 years old on September 6th. He is young and built like Nick Chubb. His performance at the NFL combine last month was given mixed reviews. His 40-yard dash time was 4.71 seconds. He ranked fourth among running backs at the combine for athletic testing on vertical jump and broad jump. He excelled at the foot quickness drills and the bag drills. This is why he was given mixed reviews last month. What was more impressive was his production in the last two season at Notre Dame.

In 2022 Audric Estime’ at Notre Dame rushed for 920 yards in 156 attempts with 5.9 yards rushing average. In the 2023 season at Notre Dame, he rushed for 1341 yards in 210 attempts with 6.4 yards rushing average. Against a top-rated Ohio State defense on national television Estime’ had 14 carries for 70 yards. He averaged 5 yards a carry in that game. If the Browns draft him next month, he could fit nicely in a specific role.

Browns star running back Nick Chubb is coming of a serious knee injury he suffered week 2 in 2023. It will most likely take time for Chubb to be ready to have a full workload of carries next season. Estime’ would potentially be a number two running back to spell Nick Chubb. There is no way to replace a running back like Nick Chubb. But, as the 2024 Cleveland Browns anticipate their playoff run. A fresh and ready Nick Chubb would be an integral part of the playoff push. And two quality running backs would be necessary.