Latest news with #DylanSampson
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns GM's Latest Nick Chubb Update Sparks Strong Reaction from NFL Fans
Entering the 2025 NFL offseason, it was widely expected that Nick Chubb would re-sign with the Cleveland Browns on an incentive-based deal. He has meant a lot to the franchise throughout his years in the city, but things have taken a turn. Following the Browns' decision to draft two running backs, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, Chubb is not expected to return to Cleveland. Advertisement Andrew Berry, the Browns' general manager, spoke out with an honest update about Chubb's possible return on Friday. "I would says it's probably increasingly unlikely," Berry said. "I'd say maybe a return is less likely, at least in the short term, with us right now." Fans are clearly not super happy with the idea of Chubb playing for another team. They have started commenting on Berry's update on the situation. Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb.© Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images "Bring him back. He is The Browns," one fan wrote. Another fan commented, "I hope Chubb goes to a super bowl contender as a short yardage battering ram scores 15 touchdowns and gets a ring because he deserves that and the Browns don't deserve him." Advertisement "He really about to choose Jerome Ford over Nick Chubb? I hope they go 2-14 and he get fired," a third comment said. A fourth comment read, "Every new development stings more." "Goodbye Batman. This generations favorite Brown has likely played his final game for Cleveland," a fifth comment said. If Chubb has indeed played his final game in Cleveland, he will leave town with 1,340 career carries for 6,843 yards and 51 touchdowns in 85 games, averaging an impressive 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 128 passes for 1,042 yards and five more touchdowns. Related: Insider Hints a Shedeur Sanders Trade Could Be In Play for Browns
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
With Nick Chubb's return ‘increasingly unlikely,' Browns shifting focus to rookie RBs
BEREA, Ohio — Rookie minicamp is mostly just a playbook orientation that includes about 70 minutes of football exercises. For the Cleveland Browns, Friday's official start of rookie camp marked the first day of the team's new chapter at running back. Jerome Ford is back for now, Nick Chubb is likely moving on and the new kids in town were on the practice field. Advertisement As expected, second-round pick Quinshon Judkins was first in every line as the Browns' rookies went through the practice reps, and fourth-round running back Dylan Sampson was close behind. Judkins will almost certainly become the team's feature runner at some point during his rookie season. Sampson's exact role is to be determined, but he'll be looking to move up the depth chart and potentially win a third-down job. As the Browns drafted two running backs and Ford chose to take a pay cut in the final year of his rookie deal to reduce his 2025 salary to a guaranteed $1.75 million, Chubb remains a free agent — and it appears his seven-season run in Cleveland is over. After months of talking around the near-certainty of Chubb's exit, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a radio interview Friday morning that the Browns don't expect the four-time Pro Bowler to return. 'I wouldn't rule anything out, but I would say it's probably increasingly unlikely,' Berry told 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, one of the Browns' official radio partners. 'We do have two young guys that we like. We think Jerome plays a role. It's basically kind of maybe seeing how the roles shake out in the running back room. 'You're never going to rule out someone as near and dear to our heart as Nick, and I would expect him to take another step being a year removed from the knee injury. But I'd say a return is less likely, at least in the short term, with us right now.' Chubb has been one of the best and most popular players of the Browns' post-1999 era. From 2018 to 2022, he was one of the NFL's most consistent running backs. Chubb suffered multiple knee injuries in September 2023 and required multiple surgeries, and he took a pay cut to remain with Cleveland in 2024. Chubb played in eight games, rushing for three touchdowns, before suffering a broken foot that cut his year short last season. Advertisement Chubb, 29, averaged 5.3 yards per carry over his first six NFL seasons. He had a streak of four straight 1,000-yard seasons and ran for a career-best 1,525 yards in 2022 before suffering the knee injuries in the second game of the 2023 campaign. Though the Browns drafting two backs might have been a surprise, selecting their new running back of the future always seemed likely. Judkins was taken at No. 36 in the second round with a pick the Browns acquired in their first-round blockbuster trade with Jacksonville. 'Nick Chubb is a great back who's done a lot of great things here,' Judkins told Cleveland reporters before Friday's practice session. 'I'm looking forward to starting my own legacy, and I think the coaches will put me in a great position to do that.' Judkins (5-foot-11, 221 pounds) is an explosive athlete who can run between the tackles. He had 45 rushing touchdowns over three seasons and capped his college career by scoring three times in Ohio State's national championship win over Notre Dame in January. Sampson (5-foot-8, 200 pounds) led the SEC with 1,491 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns last fall. Judkins said he's fully focused on learning the playbook and refining his game rather than how he might eventually fit, but he added that he's 'an all-around player' who believes he's game-ready at just 21. Judkins said the message he received from Browns running backs coach Duce Staley ahead of rookie minicamp was 'to just go out there and execute — just be the guy they drafted.' Ford played sparingly as a rookie in 2022, but he alternated between the feature back and a third-down role over the past two seasons. His decision to reduce his 2025 salary at least temporarily ensured his roster spot with the Browns, though Ford could go from atop the depth chart to a potential trade candidate if the rookies progress. The Browns signed fullback Troy Hairston to a futures contract and have two more fullbacks in their rookie minicamp, a sign that the offensive installation will include an emphasis on the power-run game that thrived with Chubb in coach Kevin Stefanski's first three seasons. Advertisement The running back room is crowded. Pierre Strong Jr. is also back and under contract for one more season, though he is more of a special teams player. Sampson could end up competing with Ford and Strong for kick return duties and pass-down work, though the real competition won't start until the pads come on in training camp. Right now, Judkins and Sampson are sticking to introductions and basic installations. 'We obviously like (Judkins) and his skill set,' Stefanski said. 'I think (Sampson) was a player we really, really liked a lot throughout the process. So, I think it really just so happens that they're different in style, which I think is beneficial. I think when you're talking about the running back position and the quintessential change of pace (back), sometimes you can go from a speed back to a stronger back, or vice versa. So, I think it really did just happen that way. But we liked both of those guys a lot going into this draft process.' RBs gettin' after it 💨@quinshon_ | @dylans21527 — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 9, 2025 Stefanski has stressed the basics with the 47 players in rookie minicamp, a group that includes the team's seven draft picks, 13 undrafted rookie signees and a collection of tryout and first-year players who spent some of last season on the practice squad or at the bottom of the roster. For most of those 47, nothing is certain past the next few days. For Judkins and Sampson, though, competition and opportunity await. The draft results say that Stefanski, Berry and the other folks in charge think the rookie runners are ready. 'We're gonna be able to push each other and get better,' Sampson said. 'Along with the older guys in the room, we're gonna learn from each other. I'm ready to just learn some more ball. Me and Quinshon, we'll have a good relationship, and we'll be able to push each other.' (Top photo of Quinshon Judkins: Ken Blaze / Imagn Images
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dylan Sampson discusses running back duo with Quinshon Judkins at Cleveland
Dylan Sampson discusses running back duo with Quinshon Judkins at Cleveland Former Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson was selected by Cleveland in the fourth round (No. 126 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft. After being drafted, the 5-foot-11, 201-pound running back appeared on "The Cleveland Browns Draft Show," part of the Cleveland Browns Radio Network. Sampson discussed the type of player the Browns have with him. 'I'm a violent runner," he said. "I play with a certain type of tenacity, and you can see the passion when I play, but I stay poised. I believe my vision shows out on tape, my speed, my contact, balance. I'm also looking to show everybody how well I can play out in space, whether that's on the perimeter catching the ball, and doing other things to help the offense.' Cleveland also drafted a running back in the second round. The Browns selected former Ohio State and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins with the No. 36 overall pick. Sampson discussed a running back duo with Judkins. 'I really think it's like the blueprint in the league, if you talk about the best rushing attacks," Sampson said. "I look back at Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, and you look at J (Jahmyr) Gibbs and (David) Montgomery now, you know some of the things they're doing. The ability to stay fresh, especially at our position, there's only so much wear and tear you could take, so you got two guys coming at you fresh. It's hard to stop." Sampson played at Tennessee from 2022-24. In 35 games, he recorded 2,492 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, 40 receptions, 342 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown and 28 kick return yards. He set the following single-season program records at Tennessee: total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132), rushing yards (1,491) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11). Sampson was named 2024 USA TODAY SEC Player of the Year. PHOTOS: Vols' running backs all time Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Dylan Sampson college highlights and what he brings to Browns
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. Advertisement 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. 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. This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: WATCH: Dylan Sampson college highlights and what he brings to Browns
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL draft: Grading the Browns' pick of Dylan Sampson
NFL draft: Grading the Browns' pick of Dylan Sampson The Cleveland Browns continued to invest in their ground attack on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting running back Dylan Sampson at pick 126. Despite boasting earlier additions to the backfield, this move has draft analysts buzzing about the potential value and fit of the young playmaker. Sampson's intriguing blend of instincts, patience, and explosive speed, particularly in the red zone, suggests he could be a significant asset for the Browns. Many believe Cleveland landed a steal, considering Sampson's pre-draft ranking. Let's delve into why Dylan Sampson might just be the hidden gem to further power the Browns' rushing attack and complement their existing talent. The Fit Sampson, despite only one season as a lead back, showcases impressive instincts and a knack for gaining yards after contact. What truly distinguishes him is his exceptional feel for timing, spacing, and understanding of blocking schemes. He patiently reads lane development in real time and adheres to the play's design, yet possesses the agility to improvise when necessary. Additionally, when in the redzone, Samspon has a different gear, often finding a way to get the ball to the promised land. Projecting as a strong RB2 in a gap-scheme offense, Sampson's blend of home-run speed and remarkable patience carves a clear path for potential success in the Browns' backfield when we eventually move on from Jerome Ford as a nearly 1:1 replacement. While his size and average outside vision might not suit every team, his skill set appears tailor-made to complement the bruising Quinshon Judkins we took earlier in the draft. The Value The Cleveland Browns snagged a potential steal at pick 126 in running back Dylan Sampson. In a draft deep with running back talent, Sampson distinguishes himself with his youthful profile and exceptional raw speed, especially at this point in the draft. Many draft analysts projected Sampson to be off the board much earlier, with Arif Hasan's Consensus Big Board placing him as the 76th overall prospect. This significant discrepancy in value suggests the Browns have acquired a player with considerable upside and athleticism far later than anticipated. Sampson's addition injects a dynamic speed element into their backfield at an excellent draft position. The Need With the additions of Quinshon Judkins, coupled with the existing skills of Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., the Browns clearly prioritized bolstering their ground game. Furthermore, sources close to the team suggest that a potential return for veteran Nick Chubb remains a possibility, which could transform this running back room into a true strength for the Browns. Sampson's arrival further solidifies their commitment to a potent rushing attack and provides valuable depth and competition within the unit. Pick Grade: A Sampson is one of the youngest players in this draft, and he doesn't have a lot of pressure on him right away with Jerome Ford/Quinshon Judkins already in the room.
