Dawgs By Nature
Predicting how Judkins and Sampson will be used heading into 2025, including stat projections
Heading into the offseason, the Cleveland Browns needed to revamp and retool the running back room, and they undoubtedly did with the selections of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Both of these guys can contribute immediately as rookies, and there’s a good chance the Browns already have their roles planned out based on the team’s recent running back performances over the past handful of seasons.
One of the franchise’s most productive and iconic duos in the last decade is easily Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who were unquestionably the engine of Cleveland’s offense from about 2019 to 2023.
In terms of active snap count, Chubb was on the field for an average of 52.2% of total snaps while Hunt was in on 45.8%. These guys combined for a wild average of 98% of the Browns’ total backfield snaps, which is pretty crazy.
Not many teams will have just two players carry that type of workload nowadays, and it pays tribute to their effectiveness as a backfield unit.
With a five-season average backfield split like that, it’s no wonder Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski wanted to grab more than one talented running back in this year’s class.
Jerome Ford has been a valuable piece of Cleveland’s backfield and will most likely continue to be used as a pass-catcher, but both Judkins and Sampson appear to be more natural and instinctive runners.
Though their roles on the field might be different from Chubb and Hunt’s, Judkins and Sampson have distinct skillsets that should work very well together at the NFL level. Judkins has the natural build and power of a workhorse-type back (6’0”, 221 Lbs.), and Sampson is more of a speedy, jump-cut type of runner who has homerun speed.
Judkins should be in line for most of the early-down “dirty work” while Sampson could be sprinkled in based on field position and game situation to utilize his speed on stretch plays or off-tackle runs between the 20’s.
The Browns could truly have a “Thunder” and “Lightning”, Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner-type pairing in the backfield going forward while the team continues to sort out its quarterback situation.
Here are some projections of what both Judkins’ and Sampson’s 2025 season could look like on the ground:
52% of total snaps - 217 atts., 1,063 rushing yards, 4.9 ypc., 12 TDs
37% of total snaps - 118 atts., 531 rushing yards, 4.5 ypc., 6 TDs
Only the rushing numbers were projected because it’s very hard to predict receiving stats for these players based on the simple fact that Jerome Ford could handle a majority of that work if he’s still on the roster.
Based on multiple factors in Kevin Stefanski’s history, especially if they get back to his wide/outside zone-centric offense, Cleveland’s two rookie running backs could be in line for a heavy workload...
