Most were surprised when the Browns selected Judkins 36th overall in the 2025 draft, but it's easy to make the case he was worth the pick. At 6 feet, 221 pounds, Judkins has almost the exact same frame as 22nd overall pick Omarion Hampton, whose 4.46 40 was just a hair better than Judkins' 4.48. Before running that 40, Judkins was mostly thought of as a power specialist, in part because his career average of 5.1 yards per carry was dragged down by a lot of short-yardage work. He scored 45 rushing touchdowns in 42 games at Ole Miss and Ohio State, often taking the highest-difficulty carries while smaller backs (like fellow second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson) got the YPC-boosting looks. When a defense needed a crucial stop, Judkins was the last person they wanted to see on the field. He should now be Cleveland's lead runner, perhaps as soon as Week 1, although Jerome Ford remains the favorite for passing-down snaps. Fourth-round pick and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson is a solid prospect in his own right, but he'll likely start off as the No. 3 back behind Judkins and Ford.
