CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns filled the hole in their running back room left by Quinshon Judkins, and added a cornerback for depth.
On Wednesday, they claimed running back Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders from the Chargers, and cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse from the Jets.
Sanders (6-0, 230) was signed this year by the Chargers as an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina, and was waived in the roster cuts to 53. Bernard Converse (6-1, 205) was a sixth-round pick of the Jets in 2023 out of LSU who also failed to survive the roster cutdown.
Sanders joins a running back room that contained only Jerome Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson as of Tuesday. The Browns are awaiting the arrival of Judkins, their second-round pick out of Ohio State, who had his domestic battery charge dropped but has yet to sign his Browns contract. His case is also being reviewed by the NFL under its personal conduct policy.
Sanders began his career with the Arkansas Razorbacks before transferring to South Carolina in 2024.
He built his reputation as one of the most dynamic running backs in college football, earning attention for his rare blend of size, speed and versatility. A four-star recruit out of Rockledge, Florida, Sanders arrived at Arkansas in 2021 with a reputation as a multi-position athlete. Though he played wide receiver and defensive back in high school, the Razorbacks quickly converted him to running back, where his natural explosiveness and power translated immediately.
As a freshman, Sanders contributed in a rotation, showing flashes of his big-play ability. By his sophomore season in 2022, he emerged as Arkansas’ featured back and one of the SEC’s top offensive weapons. Sanders rushed for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns that year, averaging over six yards per carry, and added 28 receptions for 271 yards. His breakout campaign included eight 100-yard rushing games and showcased his ability to break long runs while also grinding out tough yardage between the tackles.
Nicknamed “Rocket” for his acceleration, Sanders drew comparisons to NFL power-speed backs thanks to big frame and elite speed. His performance earned him All-SEC honors and positioned him as one of the nation’s premier running backs entering 2023.
Injuries, however, slowed Sanders during his junior year, with a knee issue limiting his production and playing time. But scouts remained intrigued by his upside, particularly his explosiveness in open space. Despite the setbacks, his production at Arkansas kept him firmly on the radar as a potential early-round NFL Draft pick.
Bernard-Converse joins a cornerback featuring starters Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, and backups Cam Mitchell, Myles Harden and undrafted rookie Dom Jones.
After an impressive career at Oklahoma State (2018–2021), where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 in 2021, he transferred to LSU in 2022, playing both cornerback and safety during his final season.
Bernard-Converse landed on the reserve/PUP list to start his rookie season, and didn’t see much action that year, but aimed to seize the opportunity heading into last season. His performance was stellar in preseason, earning a 92.4 overall grade and a 92.3 coverage rating from Pro Football Focus. It didn’t carry over into the season, however, when he played just six defensive snaps over seven regular season games, and contributed mostly on special teams.
Despite a second straight strong preseason, he was waived in Tuesday’s final cuts.
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