CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is back in the fold and ready to get back down to the enormous task of trying to fill Nick Chubb’s shoes.
The Browns’ No. 36 pick in the second-round pick out of Ohio State, Judkins agreed to terms on his four-year rookie contract on — worth about $11.389 million, including a signing bonus worth close to $5 million -- on Saturday and will sign it today.
Judkins won’t play Sunday against the Bengals in the opener, but will likely be ready to go by next week in Baltimore. The Browns will have a two-week roster exemption on Judkins, and can activate him as soon as he’s ready. They’ll have to waive a player when he is.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told cleveland.com that Judkins’ domestic battery case is still under review by the league under its personal conduct policy, as are the cases of receiver Isaiah Bond (sexual assault, charges dropped), and linebacker Devin Bush (simple assault, harassament).
He was selected three spots after Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, whom they tabbed with the first pick in the second round.
Judkins’ signing is the next step in a saga that began with his arrest on a misdemeanor battery charge on July 12, when his girlfriend went to police in Fort Lauderdale to report an incident that she said took place five days earlier. He missed all of training camp, and will have to work overtime to be ready for next week if the NFL permits him to play,
On Aug. 14, just over a month after his arrest, prosecutors in South Florida declined to formally charge Judkins with domestic battery, citing no surveillance video, the lack of independent witnesses, conflicting evidence, and the delayed reporting despite multiple opportunities to seek help.
Despite the charge being dropped, the NFL continued its investigation under the Personal Conduct Policy. Last year, it suspended Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., their 2024 second-round pick out of Ohio State, for the first five games of the season for his domestic violence incident despite the fact he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.
Judkins, tasked with reviving a running game that finished 29th in the NFL last season, was drafted by the Browns with one of three picks acquired in the draft day trade with the Jaguars to move down from No. 2 to No. 5, where they selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. The Browns received the No. 36 overall pick which they used on Judkins, the No. 126 overall pick in the fourth round which they used on Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, and a first round pick in 2026.
The Browns had their choice in the second round between Judkins and his Ohio State backfield mate TreVeyon Henderson, who went two spots later at No. 38 to the Patriots. Judkins finished his lone season with the Buckeyes as their leading rusher in 2024 with 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns despite splitting time with Henderson, who finished second with 1,016 yards and 10 TDs. Judkins had transferred to the Buckeyes after two seasons at Ole Miss where he rushed for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns in 26 games.
Together, the two backs helped lead Ohio State to a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the national championship game.
In Judkins, the Browns saw some of the same traits that they had cherished for years in Chubb, their four-time Pro Bowler and face of the franchise who was permitted to let walk in free agency in the offseason and sign with the Texans.
“His physicality, his contact balance, the way he runs with strength is something I’ve seen in Nick as an example and those are things — and I’m not saying that this is Nick — what Nick means to this organization is beyond words,” Browns assistant general manager Catherine Hickman said on draft day. “But what I’m saying here is this style of play is just going to fit very nicely with what we’re trying to do.”
She described Judkins as “a physical downhill player that’s going to again bring the physicality I just referred but also someone that is going to be able to contribute on third down, whether that’s in pass pro. He’s a dependable pass catcher, so really a well-rounded prospect that’s going to be able to help us and play the type of football we want to play.”
Former Browns Director of Player Personnel Dan Saganey, now with the Titans, likened Judkins and Sampson to Chubb and his longtime backfield partner Kareem Hunt.
“We were very fortunate to have two high level NFL backs here for a long time,” Saganey said on draft weekend. “And Judkins has proven to be super productive in that area. He’s got good power behind him. And then with Dylan, same thing. He has speed, has touchdown production. We’re always looking for guys that can score touchdowns at any offensive position. These guys both have proven that against the highest level of competition in the country.”
Judkins, who practiced with the Browns from rookie minicamp in May to mandatory minicamp in mid-June, felt like a natural in Kevin Stefanski’s offense from the jump.
“I fit great in this offense,” he said on draft day. “You know who I am as a player. The physicality, the vision, the elusiveness, the ability to be used outside the tackles and be in the slot and also be in one-on-one situation with linebackers. And that’s why I feel like that’s who I am as a player. And that’s why I feel like I fit so great in this offense. And this is such a great situation for me because this is the offense that I excel in because those are the things that I bring to the game. The passion as well, and the grit that you can’t coach. So that’s what I definitely look forward to for this year.”
Judkins joins Browns 2024 leading rusher Jerome Ford and Sampson in the running back room. Once he’s back up to speed, he’ll primarily serve as the workhorse back on first and second down, with Sampson providing a speedy and shifty changeup on third down. Ford, who brings both good power and speed, will spell both players.
Judkins was one of three players who’s domestic violence or assault cases were reviewed by the NFL this offseason. The others were undrafted rookie receiver Isaiah Bond, who had his sexual assault charge dropped, and linebacker Devin Bush, who’s set to be on trial in December in Allegheny County on charges of simple assault and harassment.
This post will be updated.
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