One of the biggest surprises of the Cleveland Browns season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was the passing game impact of rookie running back Dylan Sampson, whose performance has generated plenty of buzz about his future.
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Rookie fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson got the start at running back in the Cleveland Browns' season opener, and although he had fewer than 30 rushing yards, he impressed with his receiving ability out of the backfield, showing much more of an affinity for it than he ever did in college. Sampson's debut performance is encouraging for his long-term outlook as part of the offense, even if he's always playing a committee or backup role, and his tape backs that up.
As a runner, Sampson carried the ball 12 times for 29 yards, averaging 2.4 yards per carry. That's a poor number, but it was better than Jerome Ford's mark of 1.3. The lack of rushing yards was primarily due to the offensive line struggling to create much push, so hopefully that will improve moving forward. There were some points where Sampson impressed on the ground, though.
Finding Some Space on the Ground
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This weekend of college football has a ton of intriguing matchups, especially with the 2026 NFL Draft in mind. Cleveland Browns fans should watch three guys closely on Saturday.
Week 3 of the college football season is packed with some intriguing and fun matchups after a lot of the top teams played against smaller schools, leading to a lot of blowouts last week. Georgia is on the road for an SEC clash with Tennessee, and Notre Dame is hosting Texas A&M in prime time Saturday night.
But it's another matchup that Cleveland Browns fans should have their eyes on in terms of prospects for their team in next April's draft. #5 Miami (FL) is hosting #18 USF, which is coming off a big win over Florida last week.
Three players from Miami stand out as potential targets for the Cleveland Browns, and fans should keep an eye on them when the game kicks off at 4:30 PM on Saturday.
Carson Beck, QB, Miami, FL
Season Stats (2 Games): 42/55 (76.4%), 472 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT.
Heading into the 2024 season, there were a lot of draft experts who had then Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as one of the top quarterbacks in the class after a great 2023 season with the Bulldogs. However, his 2024 season was a disaster, which ultimately led him to decide to stay in school and transfer to Miami.
Through two games with the Hurricanes, Beck is starting to look like the guy he was in 2023 again. He struggled under pressure in 2024, and throughout the two games, he has been significantly better. Now, one of those games was against Bethune-Cookman, which is why some are still hesitant to throw him back into the conversations about the top quarterbacks in this class. He has to play at this level against a tougher level of competition to be taken seriously as an NFL quarterback prospect again, but it's been a good start.
Beck has looked comfortable and calm in the pocket, and through two games has zero turnover-worthy plays. He's also been playing it safe with a lot of shorter passes and a lower average depth of target than most of the rest of the class by a couple of yards.
Now he faces a USF defense that held down a good Florida offense to less than 20 points a week ago. Beck has a chance to show last year was a fluke in the coming weeks, and it all starts Saturday at home.
Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami, FL
Season Grade (2 Games): 84.3 Run Blocking Grade, 72.7 Pass Blocking Grade
It's clear that the Browns' offensive line is going to see a lot of changes in the next year, and Miami right tackle Francis Muaigoa is one of the top options in this class. Muaigoa has a ton of experience; this is his third year as the starting right tackle for Miami. He's got a mean streak about him and brings plenty of power to his game with violent hands to jolt pass rushers off their plan and move people in the run game.
He's a fluid athlete who has quick feet that help him change direction well and redirect pass rushers who try to change direction to beat him. His pad level can be a little inconsistent at times, so he needs to clean that up and play with more consistent leverage. Muaigoa should absolutely be on the Browns' radar as a first-round target.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami, FL
Season Stats (2 games): 5 pressures, 2 sacks, 25.6% Pass Rush Win Rate, 91.2 Run Defense Grade
In all likelihood, the Browns will not use one of their first-round picks on an EDGE next April, but if they do, Rueben Bain Jr. would be someone to target. Bain is the complete package, a big, powerful pass rusher with great hands and instincts at the position. He's just as good a run defender as a pass rusher. Bain does a great job staying low and using leverage to control reps, especially as a run defender.
Bain is a tone setter, a physical player who wants to bring the fight to the offense. He's got a good first step off the line of scrimmage and a relentless motor. Bain has a deep bag of pass-rush moves, and if he continues to play at the level he has started the season, he will be a top 10 pick in April.
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