The Browns' 2024 season is in turmoil as rookies Quinshon Judkins and Shedeur Sanders face off-field issues. Can Cleveland overcome this preseason crisis?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just as the summer lull was supposed to give way to training camp optimism, the Cleveland Browns find themselves engulfed in a firestorm of controversy. The team's top 2025 draft picks are in legal trouble, the front office is under intense scrutiny for its handling of the quarterback position, and a general sense of chaos has replaced any preseason hope. The biggest blow came with the July 12 arrest of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, a move that throws his future, and the team's plans, into complete disarray.
This contract situation... means he could be in limbo and could miss valuable training camp time for multiple reasons.
The optimism surrounding the 2025 draft class has evaporated. Running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested in Fort Lauderdale for domestic violence and battery, stemming from a July 7 incident. Released on a $2,500 bond, his legal troubles have frozen negotiations on his expected four-year, $11.4 million rookie contract. As The Athletic's Zac Jackson noted, this puts Judkins' availability for training camp in serious doubt. Compounding the issue, top pick quarterback Shedeur Sanders has racked up multiple speeding tickets, raising questions about the maturity of the two players drafted to be cornerstones of the future.
The rookies' off-field troubles pour salt in an already gaping wound: the quarterback position. The front office is facing mounting criticism for the Deshaun Watson situation, a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract that has been a 'complete disaster' over the last three seasons. With Watson's struggles and no clear starter named for Week 1, the hope was that Shedeur Sanders could compete for the job. Now, his own immaturity casts a shadow over that possibility, leaving the Browns with a massive headache and no clear answer under center.
The turmoil extends beyond the top of the roster. With legal disputes and controversies dominating the headlines, the entire organization feels unstable. This chaotic environment creates a massive uphill battle for undrafted free agents (UDFAs) and other players on the bubble, who are trying to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster while the franchise's foundation appears to be cracking.
In a bizarre bit of scheduling whiplash, the NFL announced Tuesday that the Browns will be heading across the pond. Cleveland has been designated to host a regular-season game at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the 2025 season. While it's a positive for the team's international brand, the news feels disconnected from the grim reality on the ground. For a team currently consumed by legal battles and internal strife, planning a trip to London seems like the least of their worries.
With training camp just around the corner, the Browns are facing a full-blown crisis. The front office must navigate serious legal issues, a quarterback controversy of its own making, and immense public pressure. The trip to London is a nice headline for the league, but for Browns fans, all eyes are on Berea to see if the leadership can steer this ship out of the storm before the season sinks entirely.
