The Browns select RB Quinshon Judkins with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“He brings the brand of football that we want, AFC North ‘back,'” Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Personnel Glenn Cook said. “Exceptionally strong, physical, tough, productive three-down guy. I know (running backs coach) Duce (Staley) is extremely excited.”
Judkins spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Ole Miss, where he totaled 545 carries for 2,725 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. In addition, he also had 37 receptions for 281 receiving yards and three touchdowns. During his freshman year in 2022, Judkins led the SEC with 274 carries, 1,567 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
He then transferred to Ohio State for the 2024 season, where he recorded 194 carries for 1,060 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He also added 22 receptions for 161 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
“I feel like for myself, that was a positive for me,” Judkins said of playing in the SEC and the Big Ten. “Just having to play in the two hardest conferences in college football and playing in two different environments where I feel like the SEC has a different style of play than the Big Ten as well, they’re just too different. But getting the opportunity to play in both of them has helped me excel and further my career and be better as a player.”
Judkins joins a running back room that features Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. Adding depth to the position – especially with RB Nick Chubb hitting free agency at the start of the new league year – provides the chance to re-establish their run game in the offense. During the 2024 season, the Browns averaged 94.6 rushing yards per game, ranked 29th in the league. With the addition of a young player like Judkins, the Browns can utilize their backs to their advantage and establish the run game.
“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 — that’s why I feel like that’s who I am as a player,” Judkins said. “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.”
