The Conundrum of Chuba Hubbard: Does he declare for 2021 NFL Draft?

The case for Chuba Hubbard to declare

To quickly repeat from the last slide. Oklahoma State is not doing Chuba Hubbard any favors with his usage. A run oriented offense that uses him as the focal point. Having 350 carries per year is not something that many NFL teams will be comfortable with. Durability is a big deal for running backs, since they are mainly only good for their first contract. If a team is drafting a running back with high usage in college, he may not see that first contract all the way to its end.

Looking at his current draft stock might not be the most flattering thing for him right now, but looking at what he’s known for will be. NFL teams are always going to value that home run hitting ability he possesses. His tape is full of him hitting running lanes hard, accelerating quickly and eliminating safety angles with top-tier speed. That will make him valuable. However, how high that value can rise is the question.

How will teams value his big play ability in comparison to his weaknesses? How will teams value his leadership? How will teams value his usage? All of these questions need to be considered when trying to value his draft stock.

On twitter, people think that Chuba Hubbard will declare, but in reality, he shouldn’t. That could be very true, but in the end, Hubbard will need to make the decision that is best for his future. Staying in college could mean many more carries, which could hurt him; or it could mean a new school that rounds out his game.

Declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft could mean he hears his name called on day three, or it means a team values his big play potential and takes him earlier than that. It’s a tough question to consider, and we won’t have an answer until he makes a decision.