Judkins Joins Browns in NFL Draft: Instant Analysis and Stats for 36th Pick

BEREA — The Browns entered Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft With two out of the initial four selections in the secondary round, using their subsequent pick from this set, the Browns chosen Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins At No. 36 overall on Friday, April 25, Cleveland got this pick through a first-round trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in which the Browns dropped from the No. 2 spot to No. 5 overall. Following is our immediate draft evaluation. It would be preposterous to make hasty judgments about what Judkins It requires several years to determine how a draft pick will turn out. Therefore, this assessment focuses more on Judkins’ compatibility with the Browns and aligning with the team’s strategy rather than solely evaluating his abilities as a player.

Quinshon Judkins to the Browns in the NFL Draft: Immediate grade, analysis, and statistics for the 36th overall selection

Grade : B+

Why The Browns required assistance at the running back position, so they brought in a player known for his exceptional contact balance and strength. This led Assistant General Manager Catherine Hickman to draw parallels between this new addition and Nick Chubb—a four-time Pro Bowler currently an unrestricted free agent after recovering from significant injuries including a major knee issue and a broken foot.

Standing at 5 feet 11¾ inches and weighing 221 pounds, Judkins spent two years playing for Mississippi before moving on to Ohio State for his junior year in 2024. During his time as a collegiate player, he participated in 42 games and started in 27 of them. He accumulated an impressive record of 739 rushes totaling 3,785 yards (averaging 5.1 per carry), scoring 45 touchdowns. Additionally, he caught 59 passes for 442 yards and added another five touchdowns through receptions.

Judkins, who is 21 years old, received first-team All-SEC recognition in both 2022 and 2023, along with third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024.

During last season at Ohio State, Judkins managed 194 rushes for a total of 1,060 yards (an average of 5.5 per carry) along with scoring 14 touchdowns. Additionally, he contributed through receptions, catching 22 passes for 161 yards and adding two more touchdowns. His role as a running back was split with another Buckeye player named TreVeyon Henderson. New England Patriots Select two positions subsequently at No. 38 overall. Renowned for his ability to run through tackles, Judkins is expected to serve as a better counterpart to the Browns' running back Jerome Ford compared to what Henderson could have offered.

Nate Ulrich can be contacted via email at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Quinshon Judkins to Browns in NFL draft: Instant grade, stats for 36th overall pick