Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns will not go into Sunday’s Week 1 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals at full strength, but getting RB Quinshon Judkins signed on Saturday was a positive step for the 2025 season. Judkins, along with DT Mike Hall Jr., who has been ruled out due to his knee injury, are the final two main pieces to the Browns roster for this season. With or without Hall, the defense is expected to be very good, including this week, but what about the offense with Judkins?
We shared previously what we thought Cleveland’s offensive depth chart would look like with WR Isaiah Bond and Judkins as late additions. Now, whether it is in Week 2 or Week 3, that depth chart could be ready to roll so what is it missing?
At quarterback, Joe Flacco provides a veteran, steadying presence and has already proven he can win games in HC Kevin Stefanski’s system. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders provide some exciting upside options behind the vet.
At running back, Judkins must prove himself, but the second-round pick was expected to be the team’s bellcow and comes with a strong NFL draft pedigree. Jerome Ford can make big plays but is inconsistent, while Dylan Sampson is a pass-catching, big-play threat.
At wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy turned out to be a steal with over 1,200 yards receiving last season. Cedric Tillman is a big-bodied type on the outside that can outphysical many cornerbacks, while Jamari Thrash looked like a slot dynamo with his crisp route running during preseason action. Bond can break games open with his speed, but also provides a “take the top off the defense” threat that can open up things underneath.
At tight end, the bro-mance between David Njoku and Flacco could take the athletic marvel to the next level, while Harold Fannin Jr. showed the upside that led him to be college’s leading receiver last year.
The offensive line has four proven veterans and Dawand Jones. If Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin can ward off injury and Father Time, Wyatt Teller and Ethan Pocic will join them to provide a solid force as they return to the zone blocking scheme that they all succeeded in previously. The fear is that one weak link can break the OLine chain, so it will be up to Jones to solidify this unit.
So what is missing? Simply, two things:
Few, if any, NFL teams are loaded with depth at many positions, but Cleveland’s roster lacks much depth around the offense. It is why the absence of Judkins has been so concerning for the team’s rushing attack. If an injury, age or just regression hits any one of these positions, the Browns offense could falter quickly.
The depth chart also lacks proven experience outside of a few players. While there is hope for Judkins and Sampson at running back, Tillman, Thrash and Bond at receiver, Fannin at tight end and Jones on the offensive line, no one...
