Dawgs By Nature
Looking at the rest of the backs on the Browns’ roster.
In Part 1 of our running back preview for the Cleveland Browns, we looked at the team’s top three backs, including a pair of rookies. In Part 2, we look at the other two running backs in camp, as well as the team’s lone fullback candidate.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 215 lbs | Age: 26
Experience: 4 years | College: South Dakota State
Sometimes, it’s easy to forget how high some of these guys were drafted and how young they are. In Part 1, we were busy talking up the potential of Dylan Sampson, but Pierre Strong Jr. was a fourth round pick by the Patriots in 2022 and is now in the final year of his rookie contract.
Strong has only seen limited duty with the Browns over the past two seasons. In 2023, he had 63 carries for 291 yards (4.6 YPC). Last year, he had 26 carries for 108 yards (4.2 YPC). He’s also shown to be a capable receiving back. But even with the injuries to Nick Chubb, it seemed clear that Cleveland never viewed him as a starting-caliber back, based on his lack of reps.
Still, he’s found a way to stay on the back end of the depth chart. You never know what can happen in camp, though — although Quinshon Judkins is the starter, will a roster spot open up if Jerome Ford is traded? Or, what is Dylan Sampson doesn’t have the best training camp, or someone suffers an injury? That’s how I’m viewing Strong heading into this year’s camp — he’s the insurance back in case something goes wrong; otherwise, I think he’ll be hitting the waiver wire.
Final Roster Odds: 20%
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 225 lbs | Age: 23
Experience: Rookie | College: Appalachian State
Ahmani Marshall is one of the Browns’ rookie undrafted free agents from this season. As far as size goes, he takes the crown of the biggest back in camp at 6-1, 225 lbs. He didn’t have a ton of reps in college, but saw his most action as a senior at Appalachian State, where he ran 149 times for 713 yards (4.8 YPC) and 7 touchdowns to go along with 11 catches for 71 yards.
Marshall was Dane Brugler’s 107th-ranked back in this year’s class. He isn’t known for his agility, but could be evaluated as a short-yardage back, something we all know Kevin Stefanski has utilized in the past when you think of Kareem Hunt and (to a lesser degree) D’Onta Foreman. I don’t think that’ll be enough to warrant a roster spot for Marshall, but he’s still competing for a spot on the practice squad.
Final Roster Odds: <5%
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 245 lbs | Age: 26
Experience: 3 years | College: Central Michigan
It’s hard...
