When the Cleveland Browns selected RB Quinshon Judkins out of Ohio State with the 36th selection in the 2025 NFL draft, he was the third running back taken. Cleveland GM Andrew Berry had a ton of blue-chippers sitting there ready to help the franchise, such as safety Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina, Missouri receiver Luther Burden, OT Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota, and another stud running back as Judkins’ teammate in TreVeyon Henderson.
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Berry
decided that the running back room needed some fresh blood, and at the time, it was uncertain what would happen with Nick Chubb.
A few discussions in The Feed, where you can participate to enter to win this sweet STARTER jacket, are about Judkins right now.
Along this path, a lot has occurred with Judkins. He looked great in OTAs and mini-camp. But all the while, Berry had some issues with the rookie contract. Then Judkins got in trouble with the law, which has since been rectified, and all charges were cleared. Still, no signed contract.
The opening game of the 2025 season is this Sunday against division foe the Cincinnati Bengals.
And yet, Judkins is nowhere to be found. Any new player to a team needs time to get adjusted. In the pro level, the offensive playbook is huge. And yes, players have to memorize these plays. When an athlete comes in at the last minute, he is basically useless.
Schemes, plays, situations, blocking assignments, adjustments, snap cadence, short passing routes, consistency, personnel groups, gap schemes, timing, working on weaknesses, understanding play action, working to get out of the way on the quarterback’s set drops, and even just getting to know the names of the guys you are playing with are necessary.
That is what training camp is for. And Judkins has participated in none of it.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Judkins is ready to report.
What has been most troubling is that all NFL rookie deals are slotted. A player’s agent isn’t getting more (or less) than what is transcribed. All agents know this. So, why has Judkins been a no-show?
It seems the only items in contracts that can differ from the player who was drafted in the same spot and in the same round as last year are guaranteed money, offset language if the player is released before the contract and the timing of how the money is delivered. The number of years will be the same and won’t change, and the total value of the deal is exact. Speculation was that the Judkins contract issues related to language surrounding guarantees.
Cabot noted:
“I believe Judkins will be back with the Browns soon, possibly even sometime this week, as they prepare for the Bengals. If he makes it back early enough in the week, he could possibly contribute some in the opener.”
Contribute in the Week 1 game against the Bengals? Doing what? Making sure the footballs all have enough air in them? What is Browns QB Joe Flacco supposed to do with Judkins? “No, Q. I said start on the right and go in motion to the left, remember?”
Maybe return kicks? Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone already has DeAndre Carter for both kickoff and punt returns.
Cabot continued that the money situation has been resolved:
“The amounts are slotted. He’s due to make about $11.4 million over four years, with a signing bonus close to $5 million.”
Judkins was a beast in college and ran for 3,785 yards on 739 attempts, a 5.1 yards per carry average, and scored double-digit touchdowns each season with a career total of 45. He was involved in the passing game as well with 59 receptions for 442 yards and another five scores.
But all of that was in Ohio State’s system. With their terminology.
Rookies need time. There is so much to know for an NFL running back than in college. It is night and day protection-wise. All of these things are so important. Obviously, Judkins had OTAs and minicamp time with the team, but nothing since.
Right now, the deal is still pending. Cabot expects it to be signed any moment now.
And besides, the league is still reviewing the alleged domestic violence incident because he was actually arrested with a battery charge. Despite all charges being dropped, that may violate the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and Judkins may begin the season on the commissioner’s exempt list instead of suiting up each week.
This much we do know: Jerome Ford, fellow rookie Dylan Sampson, and Raheim Sanders are working hard to lead the Browns this weekend versus the Bengals.
Even if Judkins’ situation with the team gains clarity soon, he has missed all of training camp and the preseason games, and will have to get up to speed on what to do before he can be utilized as the stud back he was drafted to become.
