The brilliant 21-year-old running back Quinshon Judkins was selected 36th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. UPDATE 6/19 — He has officially signed a full guaranteed four-year contract worth $11.4 million with the Cleveland Browns. This signing wraps up the tough negotiations. The last member of the 2025 draft class to sign is now officially on the team! Judkins, a dynamic player in college at Ole Miss and Ohio State, is in a rough spot. He is now facing a misdemeanor domestic violence and battery charge from an incident in Fort Lauderdale on July 12.
The Browns pushed off Judkins’ signing to evaluate the state of his ongoing legal troubles. The case brought by prosecutors deserves a second look. Ultimately, the prosecutor’s office decided against moving forward with that misdemeanor battery charge associated with the alleged domestic altercation. This decision was made only weeks before Judkins’ contract was officially signed.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy reaffirmed that the league is still examining the legal case surrounding Judkins. Consequently, he will miss the Browns’ season-opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals. To make matters worse, he missed training camp, making it even harder for him to get acclimated as he approaches the 2023 season.
Judkins will get the usual two-week roster exemption. This perk is usually only awarded to draft selections who sign their deals right before the regular season kicks off. This exemption allows him some time to adjust and potentially prepare for future team activities while his legal situation remains under review.
Judkins is clearly talented enough to help put the off-field issues behind him, but those challenges are starting to catch up. His jaw-dropping collegiate tenure at Ole Miss and Ohio State has had scouts and fans foaming with excitement. The Browns are confident that when Judkins is able to clear up his legal business, he’ll be able to add a valuable piece to the Browns roster.
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