As active-duty military, keeping up with your hometown team isn’t always easy. In 2018, the Browns were coming off a brutal 0–16 season, and expectations were… well, let’s just say they weren’t high. The season kicked off with a comical 21–21 overtime tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by a gut-wrenching loss to Drew Brees and the Saints thanks to what felt like an endless string of missed field goals by Zane Gonzalez. Then, finally, the first win in what felt like forever. Baker Mayfield came off the bench for Tyrod Taylor and led the Browns to a 21–17 victory over the Jets on Thursday Night Football. At that point, I was riding high. We were back.
The next game? That’s when I got my first real taste of Nick Chubb.
Keep in mind, I was out to sea for all of this, following along through a painfully slow Yahoo game tracker that refreshed every five minutes — if I was lucky. Every time the screen loaded, it felt like I saw Chubb’s name. I was used to seeing Duke Johnson Jr. and Carlos Hyde out of our backfield, but then suddenly, boom — a 60-yard touchdown. Well, “watched” is a stretch. A little text line told me it happened. Then later, another one, over 40 yards. I remember literally saying out loud, “Who the hell is Nick Chubb?!”
We ended up losing that game, but hearing Chubb’s name over the next seven years never got old.
Nicholas Jamaal Chubb will, without a doubt, go down as one of the greatest running backs in franchise history. He won’t be forgotten in the city of Cleveland. In 85 games, Chubb racked up 1,340 carries for 6,843 yards and 51 touchdowns, averaging a stunning 5.1 yards per carry. He was our identity. When the game was on the line, there wasn’t a single player I trusted more with the rock. Seeing him suit up in a Texans uniform is going to take some serious getting used to, but I know I’m not the only one who’ll still be rooting for him.
No matter how much we didn’t like the decision not to re-sign him, it’s reality — and so is the fact that our offense won’t look the same without him. But that doesn’t mean it’s doomed. In fact, the future might be brighter than most fans realize.
Dylan Sampson: The Lightning
The Browns selected Dylan Sampson in the fourth round with the 126th overall pick. The Tennessee standout exploded in 2024, taking full command of the Volunteers’ backfield and rewriting their record books in the process. His monster junior year featured school records for rushing yards (1,491), rushing touchdowns (22), total touchdowns (22), and consecutive games with a rushing score (11). He torched SEC defenses to the tune of 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns in conference play and capped it off with SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and second-team All-America recognition.
Sampson brings an electric skill set to the Browns’ offense that feels tailor-made for their zone-heavy run game. His top-end speed — clocked between 22 and 23 mph in-game — turns modest creases into game-changing plays. Like Chubb, he shows patience pressing the line of scrimmage before making his cut, but what really stands out is his creativity in space. Whether it’s a violent jump cut or a filthy spin move, Sampson consistently creates yards after contact — 929 of them in 2024, to be exact.
He’s not just flashy — he’s smart. Sampson processes defensive fronts like a seasoned vet and converts in key moments, including an 80% success rate on third-and-short. His quick feet and gap vision make him a threat in multiple schemes, and despite his smaller frame, he holds his own in pass protection. Bottom line: he’s dynamic, decisive, and ready to make an impact.
Quinshon Judkins: The Thunder
Then, in Round 2, with pick No. 36, the Browns snagged a bruiser — Quinshon Judkins out of The Ohio State University.
Judkins didn’t enter college with much fanfare, but he wasted no time introducing himself to the football world. The Pike Road, Alabama native arrived at Ole Miss as a three-star recruit and immediately made history, rushing for 1,567 yards as a freshman — the second-most ever in SEC history by a freshman, trailing only Herschel Walker. He piled up eight 100-yard games, shattered school rushing records and ran with a nasty edge that defined his style.
At 6-foot, 219 pounds, Judkins followed that breakout year with another 1,158-yard season, leading the SEC with 15 touchdowns and earning first-team All-SEC honors for the second straight year. After transferring to Ohio State in 2024, he split touches with TreVeyon Henderson and still managed 5.5 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns and a clutch 100-yard performance in the College Football Playoff against Notre Dame.
Judkins fits Cleveland’s DNA to a tee. He’s a punishing, physical runner who thrives in zone schemes, rarely going down on first contact and almost always falling forward. He reads defensive flow at full speed, slips through tight lanes, and keeps defenses honest with a stiff arm that gets nastier as the game wears on. He’s also a reliable receiver with soft hands and improved route-running and with just three fumbles on 800 touches, he’s as secure as they come.
Thunder & Lightning in Cleveland
What makes this duo exciting isn’t just their individual upside — it’s how well they complement each other. Sampson is the lightning: fast, elusive, explosive. Judkins is the thunder: tough, dependable, relentless. Sampson can stretch the field horizontally and threaten defenses with his quickness, while Judkins can set the tone with power runs and finish games the old-fashioned way — by running guys over.
Together, they give Kevin Stefanski and the Browns’ offense something it hasn’t had in a while: versatility. This isn’t a simple one-for-one replacement of Nick Chubb — it’s a reshaping of the backfield that honors Chubb’s legacy while evolving the attack.
Building the Next Great Browns Backfield
The Browns were smart to invest in the future of their ground game, and they didn’t mess around. With Dylan Sampson and Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland now boasts a young, talented backfield that can step in and contribute right away — and grow into something special. Whether it’s Sampson flipping the field or Judkins grinding out tough yards, this duo has the potential to keep the Browns’ smashmouth identity alive.
Nick Chubb set the standard. Sampson and Judkins are here to carry it forward.
WATCH NICK CHUBB BROWNS HIGHLIGHTS BY CLICKING THIS LINK!!!
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