Michael Hall Jr.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Cleveland Browns have told running back Quinshon Judkins and his agent to make his domestic incident the “high priority over football.” The team is in no hurry to get Judkins under contract, nor to get him to training camp on time.

Currently, the organization appears to be distancing itself from him after his run-in with the law. In 2024, former OSU defensive tackle and fellow second-round pick Mike Hall Jr. was placed on paid leave while awaiting charges for a similar incident. However, at this time, that does not seem to be a possibility for Judkins, as Cleveland is in no hurry to sign him.

Judkins rushed for 3,785 yards and a jaw-dropping 45 touchdowns in three years at Ohio State. Unfortunately for the running back, the NFL tends to take a serious stance on domestic violence claims and expects teams to follow suit. That leaves a whole host of possibilities for the running back, from resolving the case and signing with the team to signing and accepting a multi-game (six, typically) suspension, to Cleveland renouncing his rights altogether. The latter would make him a free agent, though not eligible to sign until the court issue is resolved.

The Browns have had multiple character issues color the roster as of late. This time, it seems the organization is content to keep Judkins at arm’s length while the accusations are settled. In the meantime, fantasy average draft positions are on the rise for Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson. Ford had already been listed as the team’s depth-chart starter, and Sampson’s size and speed (5-foot-8, 23 MPH game speed) make him a more than suitable third-down/receiving option. Fantasy managers should take note.

Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)