The Cleveland Browns sought to overhaul their running back room this offseason, but that plan has hit a snag before it even got started.

Drafting Quinshon Judkins with a top-40 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns thought they had a new starting running back after allowing Nick Chubb to walk to the Houston Texans in free agency. However, Judkins is now facing some legal issues that he has to resolve before he can even think about signing his rookie contract in Cleveland.

It’s a good thing that Judkins was not the only running back the Browns drafted, however. Now with Jerome Ford also injured to start training camp, fourth round pick Dylan Sampson has an opportunity to step in from Day 1 and take hold of a wide-open job.

And get first team reps did Sampson during Thursday’s practice.

Who knows how this situation is going to play out with Judkins. Again, he hasn’t even signed his rookie contract yet. Depending on how this plays out, he may never sign his rookie contract. However, we know who Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. are. Sampson is the unknown. But after winning SEC offensive player of the year honors, we know the explosiveness is in there.

Could the Browns have saved themselves with a fourth round gem?

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns RB Dylan Sampson must seize opportunity ahead of him