The Cleveland Browns have signed rookie running back Quinshon Judkins to a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.4 million deal, three weeks after prosecutors declined to pursue a misdemeanor battery charge over an alleged domestic incident in South Florida in late July.
Judkins, the 36th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, was the final member of this year's draft class to sign as the Browns waited for a resolution to his legal situation. He will have a two-week roster exemption, which is standard for draft picks who sign near the start of the season.
Judkins, 21, was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence and battery charge in Fort Lauderdale on July 12 and was not with the team during training camp. While the legal matter is behind Judkins, the situation was still under review by the league, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN on Wednesday.
Judkins is scheduled to meet with the NFL this week about its investigation, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
There is a real possibility -- and even likelihood, a source told Schefter, that Judkins will make his NFL debut next Sunday at Baltimore against the Ravens.
A standout at Ole Miss and Ohio State, Judkins is not expected to play Sunday in the Browns' season opener at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cleveland has three running backs on its active roster: Jerome Ford, fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson and undrafted rookie Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
