Browns sign Quinshon Judkins to rookie contract after legal issues
Second-round pick was the last 2025 draftee to sign; charges dropped but NFL review continues and he is expected to miss the season opener
The Cleveland Browns signed second-round pick Quinshon Judkins to his rookie contract Saturday, concluding a holdout prompted by legal matters that left him absent from training camp.
Judkins, 21, the 36th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, was the final player from this year’s draft class to sign a contract with his team. He had not been with the Browns throughout training camp while a July 12 arrest on a battery and misdemeanor domestic violence charge was being resolved.
State investigators dropped the charges after identifying inconsistencies in the alleged victim's account, according to team and media reports. Despite the dismissal, the NFL is continuing to review the matter under its personal-conduct policy. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press, "The matter remains under review."
The Browns announced the signing shortly before their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, but Judkins is not expected to play Sunday as he resumes team activities. Team officials said his availability for Week 2 will depend on how much he participates in practice next week.
Judkins entered the NFL after standout seasons at Ole Miss and Ohio State, bringing a combination of size and burst that made him one of the draft’s most talked-about running backs. The Browns added him to a backfield that includes established contributors, and the team has discussed easing rookies into game action as they acclimate to the professional level.
Judkins’ absence from training camp limited his early integration into the Browns’ offense, a factor coaches cited when outlining their approach to the opener. Signing his contract clears the administrative step that previously prevented him from joining the team for practices and meetings, though roster activation and game-day status remain subject to coaching determinations and league discipline outcomes, if any.
The Browns have not publicly detailed any internal disciplinary steps related to the episode. The NFL’s personal-conduct policy allows the league to impose discipline independently of criminal charges, and league reviews can proceed even after cases are dismissed.
Judkins’ signing closes a chapter in a choppy off-field stretch for the rookie class and gives the Browns another option in their backfield rotation later in the season if he is cleared to play. The team will evaluate his readiness during the coming week of practices as it prepares for Week 2 opposition.
