The Browns may already have the shape of their backfield in place, but Cleveland still found room for a familiar name with a local track record.
With Todd Monken expected to lean on the run game in 2026 and Quinshon Judkins positioned to be a central piece of that plan, the Browns are clearly aiming for balance. Judkins’ production tailed off some before his season ended abruptly in the closing stretch of last year, but Cleveland still views him as a tough, big-bodied runner who should get plenty of work. Dylan Sampson, meanwhile, flashed last season as a pass-catching option and change-of-pace back, giving the Browns another young piece to build around.
That’s why Jaleel McLaughlin’s arrival on the practice squad last month is worth a look. He may not be in line for a major role, but he gives Cleveland another layer of depth behind Sampson if injuries ever become a factor.
McLaughlin brings a skill set that fits that kind of job. He has shown he can handle short-area receiving work, and his quickness makes him useful in bursts as a runner. After the Broncos surprisingly waived him, the Browns brought him in with those traits in mind.
Over his first two seasons in Denver, McLaughlin put up 55 receptions and rushed for 906 yards on 189 carries, even though he saw less action last year. He runs with a north-south mindset and can keep churning after swing passes and dump-offs. His feet, balance and vision also show up on outside stretch plays and tosses, where he’s been able to find room and make the most of it.
At 5-foot-7 and 187 pounds, McLaughlin is not expected to play a major role for Cleveland this season. But as an insurance piece, he makes sense.
There’s also the hometown angle, and that’s part of what makes this addition stand out. McLaughlin starred at Notre Dame College for two seasons before moving on to Youngstown State, where he spent three more seasons putting up big numbers.
He built his college reputation on explosive runs and yards after the catch, using a slippery style and open-field instincts to punish defenses. By the end of his NCAA career, he was the leader in rushing yards with 8,166 across all divisions.
Whether that translates into game action for the Browns remains to be seen. Cleveland has plenty of young players who will be fighting for touches and opportunities. Still, McLaughlin’s path makes him an easy player for Browns fans to pull for, and if he finds a way to matter, it would be a pretty good underdog story.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Already Have A New Reason To Watch Myles Garrett
Clevelands season opener did not give Browns fans much to celebrate, but it did add another layer of interest to the long view of the franchise. After a Week 1 loss dropped Cleveland to 0-1, the draft math already started taking shape in the background, with Jacksonvilles strong season putting the Browns in position for the 24th pick in the 2026 NFL draft. For a fan base that lives with both the present and the future, that kind of development is hard to ignore.
Myles Garrett also gave Browns followers a fresh storyline to track, even from afar, in his debut with the Los Angeles Rams. He was limited by a knee issue and played only part-time in the Week 1 loss, then said he needed to improve as the Rams head into a 10-day break before their next game. Los Angeles still looks built to contend this season, which only makes Garretts next steps more worth watching for anyone in Cleveland still keeping one eye on their former star. [Read more 🡒]
Browns QB Search Could Get An Early Defining Moment This Weekend
The Browns are already thinking well beyond the current season, and the quarterback conversation has quietly shifted toward the 2027 draft class. Arch Manning at Texas and Julian Sayin at Ohio State have both surfaced as names worth monitoring, giving Cleveland a pair of high-profile options as it continues evaluating the long-term answer at the games most important position.
This weekend could offer an early glimpse at how serious that search might become, even if nothing definitive is decided yet. Cleveland owns two first-round picks in 2027, which gives the front office the kind of draft capital that can change the math if it decides a move up is necessary, and the stakes only grow when the team starts sorting through whether either passer is the kind of prospect worth building around. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Is Already Addressing The One Concern Browns Fans Had
Jared Verse has already become one of the more watched additions around Browns camp, and not just because of the trade that brought him in after the Myles Garrett deal. The edge rusher has long made his reputation on force and power, but this offseason he has been focused on broadening the rest of his pass-rushing toolbox as Cleveland takes a closer look at how he fits into its defense.
Verse said he has been working on trying new moves during training camp, a sign he knows the next step in his game is about more than winning with strength alone. Entering his third NFL season, he is aiming to be a more versatile defender, the kind who can threaten blockers in multiple ways and give the Browns another layer on the edge. [Read more 🡒]