The Cleveland Browns appear well-positioned at running back, with Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson set to enter their second seasons in the system.
But if Jeremiyah Love is still available when Cleveland is on the clock, it could force a difficult decision.
Widely viewed as the top running back in the class, Love may not even make it to No. 6 overall. He brings elite 4.36 speed, natural receiving ability, and the kind of home-run playmaking this offense has been missing. For a unit still searching for consistent weapons, passing on that kind of upside won’t be easy.
“He’s special,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. “If you look at some of the dual-threat backs the league has seen, Christian McCaffrey is probably the standard, and Jahmyr Gibbs represents the next wave. Jeremiyah has a lot of those same traits — he’s a very dynamic prospect.
“In Jeremiyah’s case, the way you can deploy him is different than most players at the position, especially with what he can do in the passing game. He’s a pretty special, unique talent.”
Will the Browns Trade Up for Jeremiyah Love?
If their evaluation lands high enough, the Browns may not be content to sit and wait for Love. Armed with two first-round picks, Cleveland has the flexibility to move up the board and could seriously consider it if Love is still within striking distance.
Berry showed last year he’s willing to move back. But he made it just as clear he won’t hesitate to be aggressive if the right opportunity presents itself.
“Probably in every draft, there’s always someone who it’s realistic to trade up for unless you have the first pick,” Berry said. “Oftentimes though, what’s associated with that is it’s not just, ‘Hey, do I like that player enough to trade up for him?’ It’s what’s the cost? What’s the acquisition cost? And so I think that’s a hard question to answer without having kind of both sides of it, but that’s certainly a possibility.”
A prospect like Love could force Cleveland into exactly that kind of decision, even if it means reshaping the current backfield and cutting into Judkins’ workload.
“You absolutely have to have those types of discussions. I think that’s totally fair,” Berry said. “But there are some players that transcend scheme and make a unique impact on the game. We should be able to find a way to use those players.”
Browns Happy with Quinshon Judkins
The Browns have little reason to be anything but encouraged by Judkins after a strong rookie campaign. While his season began with some off-field turbulence, he found his rhythm once he got on the field and became a steady contributor.
Judkins finished with 827 rushing yards on 230 carries and added seven touchdowns, providing Cleveland with a reliable presence in the backfield following the departure of Nick Chubb.
“I can’t wait to get a full year and an offseason when we get [Quinshon Judkins] back at running back,” new head coach Todd Monken said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Kevin Clark.
Judkins is coming off a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle that ended his first NFL season early. However, the Browns expect Judkins to be ready for training camp.
Browns GM Fuels Jeremiyah Love Buzz Ahead of NFL Draft