Browns, Round 2 RB Quinshon Judkins Agree To Fully Guaranteed Deal
SEPTEMBER 7: In an update on this matter, Schefter reports Judkins will meet with the NFL this week as part of the league’s investigation. However, Cabot says Judkins is not expected to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, and one source tells Schefter it is likely Judkins will make his professional debut against the Ravens in Week 2.
SEPTEMBER 6: Quinshon Judkins‘ off-field situation continues to cloud his NFL career, even after a recent resolution. But the second-round Browns draftee is moving toward an early-season debut.
The Browns agreed to terms with the running back on a fully guaranteed rookie contract Saturday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Judkins is not expected to play this week but could see his debut come in Week 2, Rapoport adds. He will fly to Cleveland to sign his deal this afternoon, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who confirms the former Ohio State and Ole Miss back’s debut date is not yet known.
Chosen 36th overall, Judkins was ticketed for a fully guaranteed contract based on where the line of demarcation for such deals settled back in July. Tyler Shough receiving a fully guaranteed Saints deal — as the No. 40 overall choice — always pointed to Judkins securing such terms. But charges of battery and domestic violence led to this process dragging to the eve of Week 1.
Even with prosecutors deciding not to move forward with this case, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes the NFL is still conducting an investigation — one that could lead to a suspension under the personal conduct policy.
Cleveland is expected to receive a temporary roster exemption for Judkins, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. This can last up to two games. Judkins, 21, has not practiced since the Browns’ offseason program. Needing a ramp-up period before being deemed ready to play, Judkins may well be sidelined beyond Week 2. But this agreement puts an early-season debut in play while also finalizing the 2025 rookie class’ contracts. It is an $11.4MM slot deal.
Suspensions typically void guarantees, which led to the Judkins contractual slowdown. That remains a matter to monitor, but the Browns may have inserted language — as they did with Deshaun Watson — to protect the rookie RB in the event of a ban. For the time being, Jerome Ford and fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson will be expected to lead Cleveland’s backfield. But Judkins will have a say soon.
One of the impact transfers for the Buckeyes last season, Judkins heard his name called before teammate TreVeyon Henderson. The Browns chose Judkins two spots before the Patriots drafted Henderson. While the latter has received far more buzz ahead of his rookie season, Judkins drew extensive interest during the draft runup — after a college career that included three 1,000-yard rushing seasons in three years. He amassed 1,567 rushing yards and 16 TDs as a true freshman, and after leading the SEC with 15 rushing scores a year later, the former high-end recruit formed a 1,000-1,000 duo with Henderson in Columbus.
The Browns bid farewell to longtime backfield stalwart Nick Chubb this offseason, letting the former Pro Bowler walk in free agency. Chubb joined the Texans, who are expected to give the former Browns second-rounder a key role in light of Joe Mixon landing on the reserve/NFI list. Cleveland has Ford — Chubb’s primary fill-in over the past two seasons — under contract for one more year. Judkins and Sampson, however, represent longer-term solutions in being contracted through 2028.
Raiders WR Amari Cooper To Retire
Amari Cooper‘s return to the Raiders will not include any game action in 2025. The Pro Bowl wideout is instead ending his career. 
Cooper informed Vegas on Thursday he is retiring, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. The former Raiders draftee returned to his original team last week, ending his lengthy stay on the open market. In spite of that, Cooper’s career is coming to an end.
The 31-year-old had a down year in 2024 but did not encounter any major injury concerns. As a result, Cooper was expected to play this year, and his Raiders reunion suggested that would be the case. However, a reversal has now taken place days before Vegas’ regular season begins.
While Cooper managed to play at least 14 games every season during his career, Pelissero notes he struggled in the ramp-up process for the 2025 campaign. Instead of missing time early in a bid to suit up later in the season, the 10-year veteran will hang up his cleats. At the moment, the Raiders are now left with only four receivers on their active roster (although the team has three replacement options on the practice squad).
The fourth overall pick in 2015’s draft, Cooper had a productive run of three-plus seasons with the then-Oakland Raiders. He was traded to the Cowboys midway through the 2018 season before ultimately signing a five-year extension with Dallas. While playing out that $100MM pact, Cooper remained a highly consistent producer but the emergence of CeeDee Lamb opened the door to another trade. The Browns traded for Cooper in 2022.
That move proved to be fruitful, as the Alabama product delivered on expectations during his two full Cleveland campaigns. As a pending free agent, Cooper was dealt to the Bills last season ahead of the trade deadline. His production fell short of expectations based on the third-round pick paid in that agreement, something which no doubt contributed to a long stay on the open market.
Upon reuniting with the Raiders – at least, a regime far removed from the one he last played for as a member of the team – Cooper was set to play a role of some kind for Vegas. Instead, the team will now proceed with Jakobi Meyers (who just rescinded his trade request after an unsuccessful bid to work out an extension), along with fellow returnee Tre Tucker and rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton at the receiver spot.
Cooper recorded 1,000 or more yards seven times in his career, serving as a model of consistency over the course of his career despite changing teams midseason on multiple occasions. He is one of 57 players in NFL history to amass 10,000 career receiving yards. In all, Cooper totaled 162 combined regular and postseason appearances and over $136MM in earnings.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/25
Here are today’s minor moves as we inch a day closer to the start of the regular season:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): G Ja’Tyre Carter
Chicago Bears
- Waived (with injury settlement): G Bill Murray, RB Ian Wheeler
Cleveland Browns
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Pierre Strong
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Jake Haener
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Released: WR Russell Gage
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB JayVian Farr, CB Roman Parodie
The 49ers are doing a bit of shuffling in their receiving corps, calling up Valdes-Scantling from the practice squad and cutting Gage. According to multiple sources, it’s believed that Gage will be immediately signed back to the team’s practice squad to remain with the team.
Haener was brought back to the active roster in New Orleans after being waived at the roster cut deadline. The Saints had three quarterbacks, with Iowa Western rookie practice squad passer Hunter Dekkers, but adding Haener gives the team a bit more experienced depth, if only barely, in what may be the league’s youngest quarterbacks room.
NFL Discipline For Browns RB Quinshon Judkins, WR Isaiah Bond Not Imminent; Judkins Remains Unsigned
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.
Failed Waiver Claims Following Roster Cut Deadline
Following every team’s efforts to get down from a 90-man training camp roster to a 53-man active roster for the regular season, waiver wire claims were processed on non-vested players that were cut. There were a few players who drew more interest than others. We’ve already seen the breakdown of claims for former Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and former Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones, so here’s a look at a couple more. 
The Ravens also waived Beau Brade, an undrafted safety out of nearby Maryland who made the team as a rookie last year. Mostly a special teamer throughout his year in Baltimore, Brade fell victim to an influx of unexpected talent from the team’s new undrafted class as rookie free agents as Keyon Martin and Reuben Lowery earned spots over Armour-Davis and himself. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Jaguars were interested in bringing Brade to Duval, but the Giants had the higher waiver priority.
Armour-Davis wasn’t the only player the Titans were awarded off waivers. Tennessee also ended up claiming cornerback Samuel Womack fresh off his dismissal from Indianapolis. A fifth-round pick out of Toledo in 2022, Womack started eight games for the Colts last year after getting waived by the 49ers in 2024’s final roster cuts. Tennessee was awarded the 26-year-old this year, although the Browns also put in a claim, according to Garafolo.
Garafolo pointed out one more such instance with former Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson. A fourth-round pick out of LSU last year, Jefferson was waived by Jacksonville after being inactive for nine games his rookie year. The Bengals, who desperately need improvement on the defensive line this season, put in a claim for Jefferson to come to Cincinnati, but the 49ers held a higher waiver priority and claimed him for themselves.
Yates also brought up another, noting that linebacker Cam Jones had a claim from the Colts before being awarded to the Jets, while ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that former Eagles offensive guard Trevor Keegan was awarded to the Cowboys due to their waiver priority over the Chargers.
Similarly, when the Giants waived fan favorite backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, they hoped that they would be able to bring him back to their practice squad, per Geoff Magliocchetti of Sports Illustrated. Instead, the Patriots claimed him off waivers, and now Paul Schwartz of The New York Post reports that the Giants will not sign a quarterback to practice squad, as a result. It’s just as well, considering the team is carrying three passers on the active roster.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25
Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Chigozie Anusiem, OL Demontrey Jacobs, QB Kedon Slovis
- Released: OL Sincere Haynesworth
Arizona Falcons
- Signed: OT Ryan Hayes
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Released: CB Daequan Hardy
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Jaden Crumedy, DB Kalen King, RB DeeJay Dallas
- Released: DB Shemar Bartholomew
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DB Gervarrius Owens
- Released: LS Luke Elkin, DB Mekhi Garner
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OT Javon Foster, S Russ Yeast
- Released: OT Devin Cochran
- Signed: CB Dom Jones, TE Brenden Bates, OT Logan Brown, G Garrett Dellinger, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Released: DT Ralph Holley
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Isaiah Land
Denver Broncos:
- Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh
Detroit Lions:
- Signed: DE Andre Carter
Green Bay Packers:
- Signed: OT Dalton Cooper, QB Clayton Tune, TE Josh Whyle
Houston Texans:
- Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell, S Ben Nikkel, WR Tyler Scott
- Released: WR Tyler Kahmann
Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson, WR Erik Ezukanma
Kansas City Chiefs:
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Signed: OT Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins:
- Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty
Minnesota Vikings:
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
New England Patriots:
- Signed: LB Mark Robinson, DB Corey Ballentine, DT Cory Durden, DT Fabien Lovett
- Released: LB Cam Riley, TE Gee Scott Jr., CB Brandon Crossley
New York Giants:
- Signed: TE Qadir Ismail
New York Jets:
- Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo
San Francisco 49ers:
- Signed: QB Adrian Martinez, RB Sincere McCormick
Seattle Seahawks:
- Signed: LB Chris Paul Jr., WR/KR Courtney Jackson, CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: DT Anthony Campbell, LB Jalan Gaines, RB Anthony Tyus III
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Signed: QB Connor Bazelak, DL C.J. Brewer, WR Garrett Greene, G Luke Haggard, CB Bryce Hall, S Jack Henderson, WR Dennis Houston, DL Nash Hutmacher, LB Nick Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, OL Michael Jordan, OLB Mohamed Kamara, T Tyler McLellan, T Lorenz Metz, G Ben Scott, TE Tanner Taula
Tennessee Titans:
- Signed: OL Corey Levin, OL Clay Webb, DB Sam Webb
Washington Commanders:
Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush
Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.
Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.
Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
Baltimore Ravens
Signed to practice squad:
- T Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, DB Thomas Graham, OLB Malik Hamm, QB Tyler Huntley, DB Keondre Jackson, RB D’Ernest Johnson, WR Keith Kirkwood, ILB Chandler Martin, WR Anthony Miller, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT C.J. Okoye, G Jared Penning, DB Marquise Robinson, DE Kaimon Rucker, C Nick Samac, RB Lucas Scott, DL Brent Urban
Cincinnati Bengals
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Gary Brightwell, T Devin Cochran, T Andrew Coker, CB Jalen Davis, LB Joe Giles-Harris, G Jaxson Kirkland, CB Bralyn Lux, C Seth McLaughlin, RB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, LB Maema Njongmeta, DE Isaiah Thomas, WR Isaiah Williams, S Russ Yeast
Reverted to IR:
-
T Caleb Etienne, TE Tanner McLachlan, G Cordell Volson
Cleveland Browns
Claimed:
- CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (from Jets), RB Raheim Sanders (from Chargers)
Waived:
- TE Brenden Bates, CB Dom Jones
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Sal Cannella, WR Kaden Davis, S Christopher Edmonds, DT Ralph Holley, CB LaMareon James, DT Sam Kamara, RB Ahmani Marshall, DE Julian Okwara, RB Trayveon Williams, QB Bailey Zappe
Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Kyler Baugh, CB Beanie Bishop, DB Sebastian Castro, OL Dylan Cook, TE JJ Galbreath, WR Max Hurleman, DB D’Shawn Jamison, OL Steven Jones, DL DeMarvin Leal, RB Lew Nichols, CB James Pierre, DB Daryl Porter, RB Trey Sermon, LB Julius Welschof, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, WR Robert Woods
Browns To Sign WR Malachi Corley, G Cole Strange
Waived by the Jets after one season, Malachi Corley went unclaimed today. But the 2024 third-round pick will land elsewhere, joining the Browns (per veteran reporter Jordan Schultz). 
This practice squad agreement comes about after Corley had multiple suitors to choose from, per Schultz. He will head to Cleveland in the hopes of rebuilding his value following a poor rookie campaign. The Jets’ new regime elected to move on despite depth questions at the WR position.
Corley managed just three scoreless receptions last year. The Western Kentucky product was seen as a project given his skillset, but his efforts to develop into an NFL regular will take place in a new home. It will be interesting to see if Corley finds himself amongst the Browns’ early taxi squad elevations or makes his way onto the active roster in September.
Cleveland’s receiver room will once again be led by Jerry Jeudy in 2025. The former Broncos first-rounder set a new career high in catches (90) and yards (1,229) during his first Browns campaign, and he will be relied on to duplicate that production as the team sorts out its quarterback situation over the course of the year. The likes of Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash and undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond are also in place on the depth chart.
Corley will be joined on the Browns’ taxi squad by guard Cole Strange. The latter was waived by the Patriots yesterday, marking an unceremonious end to his time in New England. Strange is heading to Cleveland with the expectation of also being elevated to the active roster at some point, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. A backup gig along the interior could be in store by the fall.
Strange’s entry to the NFL was marked by his surprising status as a first-round pick. The Chattanooga product was hampered by injuries, and he was limited to 13 appearances across the past two seasons. When on the field, Strange was part of a Pats O-line which struggled mightily in 2024. With plenty of changes taking place up front under head coach Mike Vrabel, he found himself amongst the team’s roster cuts yesterday.
Now, Strange will join Corley in seeking to take advantage of a change of scenery. At the ages of 27 and 23, respectively, both players could wind up offering upside to the Browns’ offense in time.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
2025 NFL Waiver Order
Many of the players cut Tuesday were subject to waivers, giving teams a chance to pick them up (along with the rest of their contract). Teams can claim as many players as they want before the next team gets their remaining targets.
It’s also worth noting that relatively few players are claimed off waivers during final roster cuts each year. Waiver claims will be processed at 11am CT in the following order (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). In reverse order of the 2024 NFL standings, here is how the waiver priority sits:
- Titans
- Browns
- Giants
- Patriots
- Jaguars
- Raiders
- Jets
- Panthers
- Saints
- Bears
- 49ers
- Cowboys
- Dolphins
- Colts
- Falcons
- Cardinals
- Bengals
- Seahawks
- Buccaneers
- Broncos
- Steelers
- Chargers
- Packers
- Vikings
- Texans
- Rams
- Ravens
- Lions
- Commanders
- Bills
- Chiefs
- Eagles
Browns Name Dillon Gabriel Backup QB
The Browns’ QB situation has become much clearer in the coming days. Along with Joe Flacco being set to operate as the starter, the pecking order behind him has now been set. 
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Tuesday (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com) Dillon Gabriel will serve as the team’s backup quarterback. That news means fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders will work as QB3. Today’s update comes as no surprise given how training camp has played out.
Sanders has found himself last on the depth chart throughout the summer, whereas Gabriel has seen some time with the starting offense when healthy. Flacco has long been viewed as the top option, though, and the Browns’ logjam was cleared yesterday with the Kenny Pickett trade. Deshaun Watson, meanwhile, will start the campaign on the reserve/PUP list as expected. That leaves Gabriel and Sanders in place as backup and third-stringer.
“I think you factor in everything, truly,” Stefanski said when speaking to the media about the decision (video link). “We look at it from a bunch of different angles. So, certainly we made the decision and feel comfortable with Dillon serving in that role. It’s such an all-encompassing evaluation… We also saw a lot of them out here in practice and how they are at their craft. [Gabriel is] certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better.”
During his time in college, Gabriel drew praise for his accuracy. The UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon product was even the subject of trade talk one day after he was drafted, with suitors viewing him as a high-floor backup in the NFL. His chance to meet expectations in that role will present itself right away.
Sanders, meanwhile, will find himself on the active roster but he will not need to be on Cleveland’s gameday squad to be able to dress thanks to the current emergency QB rules. Multiple injuries will be required for him to see game action in the regular season.