The Browns' 2024 offseason is in chaos. Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins was arrested in July 2025, and QB drama looms. Will the team recover before camp?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just when Cleveland fans thought they could look forward to the fresh start of training camp, the offseason chaos meter has been cranked to eleven. The most jarring news dropped this weekend with the arrest of second-round running back Quinshon Judkins, casting a dark shadow over the team and throwing his rookie season into immediate jeopardy before it even begins.
Time will tell.
The promising start to Quinshon Judkins' NFL career has hit a major snag. The 36th overall pick was arrested Saturday in Fort Lauderdale on misdemeanor domestic battery charges. While he has been released on bond, the fallout is just beginning. His rookie contract remains unsigned, and with the NFL launching an immediate investigation, his availability for training camp is now in serious doubt. For fans, this feels like a painful case of déjà vu, marking the second straight year a Browns second-round pick has faced legal trouble before camp, following Mike Hall Jr.'s arrest last offseason. It raises serious questions about the team's pre-draft vetting process and puts immense pressure on a running back room that was counting on his contribution.
The drama isn't confined to the running back room. The quarterback situation, already a tangled web of competition, grew more intriguing after rookie Shedeur Sanders posted a cryptic 'Time will tell' message on social media. After sliding to the fifth round, Sanders already faces an uphill battle against fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, veteran Kenny Pickett, and the ageless Joe Flacco. Coupled with multiple speeding tickets this offseason, the cryptic message has fueled rampant speculation that Sanders, once projected as a top-five pick, could be traded before the season even starts if he can't quickly climb the depth chart. While he's reportedly been the first rookie in the building and working hard, the off-field noise and crowded QB room create a volatile mix.
All this turmoil comes as the Browns try to wash away the bitter taste of last year's dismal 3-14 finish. The team is desperate for a clean slate and a smooth start to the 2025-26 campaign, but these self-inflicted wounds are a significant setback. The clock is ticking, with rookies scheduled to report for training camp on July 18 and veterans following on July 22. Instead of focusing solely on X's and O's, the front office is now managing legal crises and potential trade demands. For a team needing every ounce of positive momentum, this is the worst possible start.
With rookies reporting in just four days, the Browns are facing a storm of their own making. Instead of building excitement, the narrative is dominated by legal troubles and locker room uncertainty. How the front office and coaching staff navigate these next few weeks will define the start of a season that is already feeling like a must-win.
