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ESPN hits former Tennessee Vols RB Dylan Sampson with a dose of reality ahead of his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated May 16, 2025 3:05 PM ET

Former Tennessee Vols running back Dylan Sampson was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sampson, who will turn 21 in September, was actually the second running back selected by the Browns in this year's draft.

Cleveland selected Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins in the second round.

Unfortunately for Sampson, ESPN thinks the addition of Judkins, along with the presence of running back Jerome Ford, makes the former Vol's outlook in Cleveland "less than ideal".

From ESPN: Sampson is one of the smallest and youngest RBs in this class at 5-foot-8 and 20 years old. He ran for 5.9 yards per carry over his three-season career but wasn't used much in the pass game (1.5 targets per game). Sampson's outlook is less than ideal, as second-rounder Judkins is likely the team's short- and long-term lead back. Jerome Ford is possibly a factor in 2025, as well.

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There's no doubt that Judkins will be running back one for the Browns in 2025. But Sampson should still see plenty of action, and he's optimistic about sharing the backfield with Judkins.

"I mean, me and Quinshon, I could tell we'll have a good relationship and we kind of see eye to eye on a lot of things," said Sampson during rookie minicamp. "So glad to be in the backfield with him and the other guys that’s there right now."

"I think this is the blueprint of the league, the best way it works with running backs," added Sampson. "It's a long season so you want as many people as you can to go in there and split reps and do good for the team, that keeps everybody fresh. You see it all across the league, and I think we have an opportunity to do that here."

We'll see how Cleveland's running back rotation actually plays out. ESPN doesn't necessarily think it's an ideal situation for Sampson, but I wouldn't doubt the Baton Rouge native. Sampson has proven plenty of times in recent years that he's more than capable of rising to the occasion and forcing his way onto the field.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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