Dawgs By Nature
It’s a new era in the Browns’ running back room.
Continuing our preview for Cleveland Browns training camp, we now shift our attention to the running backs.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 221 lbs | Age: 21
Experience: Rookie | College: Ohio State
Back in 2018, the Browns selected Nick Chubb with the 35th overall pick of the draft. Sadly, due to injuries, the team moved on from the beloved running back. Moving on from Chubb became clearer in the 2025 draft, when they selected Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins with the 36th overall pick.
Judkins was viewed as one of the running backs in this year’s class who would be ready-to-go as an impactful starter from Day 1, showing a great combination of power and speed, not to mention his elusiveness. Chubb lacked all of those things in his triumphant return to action last year, and even though it was a tough pill to swallow to move on from him, I get why the team preferred to find the next Chubb as opposed to hoping he could re-gain everything with another offseason of recovery.
Here is what Dane Brugler said about Judkins:
A one-year starter at Ohio State, Judkins shared running back duties in former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s diverse run game (gap/zone, pin-pulls, counters, etc.). He had one of the best two-year rushing stretches in SEC history while at Ole Miss. He then transferred to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2024 season and surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the third straight year. He joined Ohio State because he wanted to win a national title, and he helped pay off that goal with three touchdowns in a championship-game victory over Notre Dame.
Judkins has quick eyes and footwork to react to the blocking geometry, although he often runs like he is starving and must balance his aggressive style with improved patience before attacking the line of scrimmage. His best traits are his play strength and the run toughness to drop his pads, barrel through heavy contact and come out the other side. Overall, Judkins isn’t as dynamic as other backs in this class, but he is an “attitude” runner with the quickness, vision and violence to be a productive lead option in an NFL backfield. He can help secure his spot on the depth chart by taking his passing-down responsibilities from serviceable to above average.
Whether Cleveland sees him as a three-down back right away remains to be seen. Additionally, they have more depth this year, with Jerome Ford showing he can catch the ball over the past two years, and also the selection of Dylan Sampson in the fourth round.
Final Roster Odds: 100%
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 210 lbs | Age: 25
Experience: 4 years | College: Cincinnati
It’s funny to label Jerome Ford as a veteran running back when he is entering the final year of his rookie contract. With...
