WATCH: Dylan Sampson college highlights and what he brings to Browns
Dylan Sampson is a Cleveland Brown pic.twitter.com/DOzbBAtLYn — CHANNEL TN (@CHANNEL_TN_) April 26, 2025
On their first pick of day three, the Browns drafted Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson with the 126th overall pick.
Sampson got his first chance as the full-time starter in 2024 and averaged 5.78 yards per carry to earn Second Team All-American honors and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, making tremendously sharp cuts with great acceleration. In a year where the Browns could go back to pulling linemen more, Sampson has a great understanding of tempo and angles to best utilize pullers.
At five-foot-eight, 199 pounds, Sampson is a bit undersized relative to the prototypical NFL back. He is capable in pass protection and as a receiver, but could use a bit more consistency with his technique to be a three-down back. While he isn't the most violent, bruising runner, he brings an element of speed and finesse that should be a seamless fit with Quinshon Judkins, the 36th overall pick.
Sampson led the SEC in rushing with 1,491 yards and added 22 touchdowns and 143 receiving yards. PFF graded Sampson as the sixth-best running back among those with at least 20 percent of 313 rushing attempts.
#Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson
Instinctual runner (can find creases of daylight). Sudden mover with short-area burst. Low red zone/GL production. Upside as a receiver in a pro offense. Excellent spin move (below). pic.twitter.com/m1fPKjzSqC — Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) February 17, 2025
Cleveland desperately needed a revamped running back room to return to their run-based identity. With Judkins and Sampson adding to Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., the outline for an improved run game is set.
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