The Cleveland Browns might have a major question mark at the quarterback position, and there might be a lot of issues still to resolve before they become playoff contenders, but there are plenty of individuals on this team worth being excited about.
On the offensive side of the ball, one of those exciting young players is running back Quinshon Judkins. After a promising rookie year was cut short due to injury, the BRowns' 2025 draft pick is slated for another big 2026 season.
While Judkins didn't place in ESPN and Jeremy Fowler's top-10 RB rankings from a poll of NFL executives, scouts, and coaches, he did receive an honorable mention, as one AFC executive made a "big" prediction for Judkins amid some lofty praise for the Browns RB.
Browns' Quinshon Judkins predicted to have 'big' 2026 season by AFC exec
"Runs incredibly hard, faster in the open field than you'd think. I think he's going to have a big year," one AFC executive said about Judkins.
The Browns' running back, heading into year two, received some lofty praise from this AFC executive while also being on the receiving end of an exciting prediction.
This executive believes Judkins is in store for a big 2026 season, and that might not be out of reach at all for Judkins, considering his circumstances from year one to year two.
While he's coming off an injury, his offensive line should be improved in 2026; the offensive supporting cast around him is a lot better, and he's no longer in his rookie season.
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After putting up 827 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season on 230 attempts in 14 games, Judkins should be seeing plenty of work in Todd Monken's offense in 2026.
If Monken uses a similar style to what he had in Baltimore, Judkins could take on the Derrick Henry role in terms of usage, while Dylan Sampson features as the change-of-pace back to Judkins.
In such a role, it would hardly be a surprise if Judkins put together a breakout season, with a 1,000-yard season very much in play for the standout second-year RB.
The 36th overall pick during the 2025 NFL Draft had a tumultuous rookie season, but now, as long as he's healthy, Judkins could have a "big" 2026 season, just like this AFC executive believes the Browns' 22-year-old is capable of.
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