Newly acquired running back Nick Chubb's departure in free agency left a noticeable void in the Cleveland Brown's offense, one that the franchise hasn’t had to fill in nearly a decade.
Chubb, 29, and a four-time Pro Bowler has spent the past seven seasons with the Browns, rushing for over 1,000 yards four times since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. Chubb's numbers regressed down to 3.3 yards per carry in his final regular season with the Browns, partially due to his knee injury that sidelined him since week two of the 2023 regular season.
Quinshon Judkins, the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year, was selected in the second round of this year’s draft and is already emerging as the potential new face of Cleveland’s backfield — injecting youth and long-term upside into the running back room.
Judkins
Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins (RB18) during the 2025 NFL Combine
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Former NFL Player and three-time Super Bowl champion, JeRod Cherry weighed in on Cleveland’s future at the position.
“It seems like they’re giving the ball to Judkins and saying ‘it’s yours,’” Cherry said.
Judkins has been one of college football’s most productive backs over the past three seasons, spending two years at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State for his final campaign. He totaled 3,785 rushing yards, 442 receiving yards, and 50 touchdowns during his collegiate career giving the Browns a true dual-threat weapon out of the backfield.
With NFL veteran Jerome Ford in the rotation, Judkins won’t be fully handed the job — but his early reps suggest he could be the one to carry Cleveland’s ground game forward.