The Added Extras
As good as Chubb is as a runner, in order to be seen as a feature running back at the NFL level, he will need to be able to contribute in the passing game as well. While he wasn’t used extensively as a pass catcher at Georgia, especially in recent years, he showed at least a functional ability to catch the ball, even if he isn’t much of a route runner:
While these plays are hardly awe-inspiring, they do at least allow him to be used on blitz-beating dump-off routes without the risk of him dropping the ball or bobbling the ball into the hands of a defender; teams will likely want him to develop somewhat as a route runner in order to make him more versatile on passing downs, but there are at least enough core skills for them to make it worth their time. In addition to acting as a pass catcher, teams occasionally need running backs to acts as pass blockers, and while this is not something that Chubb was terrible at while at Georgia, it is something that will need some work:
It is unclear at this point what importance the new Norv Turner offense will place on pass catching for running backs, and given Chubb’s ability to act as a pass catcher and Christian McCaffrey’s supremacy in that field, this shouldn’t be something that they need to rely on him doing on a consistent basis. However, there will be situations when both running backs begin in the backfield and McCaffrey ends up out wide where a running back will be needed to give the quarterback time to make throws down the field, so an uptick in Chubb’s pass protection game will be necessary for him to fill out his complete profile.
NFL Best Case Scenario: Todd Gurley
NFL Worst Case Scenario: Alfred Morris
One Sentence To Tell Your Friends On Draft Night: “Chubb isn’t perfect, but he is one of the best pure rushers in recent draft classes and shows enough core skills as a pass catcher and blocker to be seen as a three-down back at the NFL level.”
Grade: B+
