Although there are no longer any criminal charges pending against Browns rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond or rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, both players remain subject to NFL discipline. The same is true for veteran linebacker Devin Bush, whose simple assault/harassment charges are still pending and who has a jury trial scheduled for December 2.
Unless Bush is able to reach a deal with prosecutors well in advance of his trial date, any league discipline likely will be delayed until 2026. Since Bond and Judkins are in the clear from a criminal standpoint, the NFL could make a decision on them at any time.
However, it appears no such decision is imminent. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, league spokesman Brian McCarthy has no update on the matter, so the status of the two rookies remains in limbo for the time being.
Judkins, a second-round pick, was drafted with the expectation that he would compete for a significant workload right away, as only Jerome Ford was penciled in above him on the depth chart. His misdemeanor domestic battery charge threw a wrench in the works, and although prosecutors decided over two weeks ago that they would not move forward with the case, Judkins remains unsigned.
In a recent appearance on PFT Live, Cabot discussed the possible reasons for the delay (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Now that a handful of second-rounders selected after Judkins have received fully-guaranteed rookie contracts, it could be that the Browns do not want to go that route for Judkins in light of the circumstances.
Default language could also be an issue. Typically, suspensions void all remaining guarantees on a contract, and Judkins may well receive a suspension stemming from the recent domestic battery allegations. As such, he may be trying to convince the team to exclude that particular incident from the default provisions in his deal.
All of that is just speculation, as Cabot acknowledges the reason for Judkins’ unsigned status is unclear. She did say the former Ole Miss and Ohio State standout is not considering a return to college football (NCAA rules technically prevent that, but Florio believes Judkins could win a legal challenge on that front).
Bond was a legitimate Day 2 prospect whose draft stock was tanked by his sexual assault charges. After a grand jury declined to indict him, he quickly caught on with the Browns, and he offers intriguing upside in a WR room that has plenty of question marks behind Jerry Jeudy.
Still, given the issues surrounding Judkins and Bush, and in light of the backlash the team faced after acquiring quarterback Deshaun Watson several years ago, there were members of the organization who were uncomfortable with signing Bond, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. While the team’s top decision-makers clearly felt the risk was worth the reward, the fact that there was apparently some pushback is notable.
As a Browns fan, this whole Judkins drama is a major bummer going into a great draft, really good UDFA signing…I wish the Browns would sign him then trade him. He punched a lady in the mouth, yet gets a slap on the wrist…we don’t need that behavior from our players. Signing Bond was also not a great idea, given the allegations against him…we can do better Andrew Berry…..
What, over the course of his tenure, makes you believe “do better” is really a possibility?
I’m still not sure why Andrew Berry has a job. Took over a talented team and has run it into the ground while also being a horrendous evaluator of character.
You want the Browns to sign someone you identify as a person who “punched a lady in the mouth” so that the Browns can maybe recoup a draft pick via trade? If the Browns are that craven (and they are), then nobody- not the owner, not the FO, and not the fans- have any business asserting that a player is too much a lowlife to play for the Browns. If Browns ownership/FO had any integrity (they don’t), they’d chalk it up as a loss and walk away.
They can’t trade him unless they sign him first, otherwise if they don’t sign him, they lose the 2nd round pick they received from Jacksonville to draft him. So to get him OUT of Cleveland for something, they must sign him …then they can trade him
You don’t know he punched anyone. She showed the police pictures of her injuries days later. There was also video of them that day and she has no injuries. It can’t be proven which is why he isn’t being charged. Due process and rule of law.
link to espn.com
He admitted to punching her in the mouth, in self defense he said….he was driving, she was behind him kicking his seat so he turned around and punched her ..thats his statement of events
Great draft? Grabbing 2 questionable QBs and another 2 RBs when not even a position of need (given their current standing).
How do the Browns have this many people waiting for disciplinary hearings? Someone needs to investigate this organization for malpractice.
Sadly domestic violence is everywhere in the NFL, not just Cleveland…. Kansas City has the highest percentage….just saying
They should trade Judkins draft rights for Nick Chubb.