Dylan Sampson starred at the Tennessee Volunteers, rushing for 2,492 yards and 35 touchdowns, highlighted by a dominant 2024 season with 1,491 yards, 22 TDs, and SEC Offensive Player of the Year and Second-Team All-American honors. In Week 12, he showed just why he racked up those numbers in college.

Drafted by the Browns in the 4th round (126th overall) in 2025, he signed a four-year, $5.13M rookie contract with a $930K signing bonus. The Browns' RB gave the Browns’ struggling passing game a big boost, turning a screen pass into a 66-yard touchdown, his only touchdown of the day, earning himself a place on the Rookie of the Week polls.

The NFL has opened the voting for the Rookie of the Week, and Dylan Sampson is in the thick of it, competing with Titans’ quarterback Cam Ward, Raiders’ running back Ashton Jeanty, Bengals’ linebacker Barrett Carter, Giants’ defensive end Darius Alexander, and Texans’ safety Jaylen Reed. So it’s safe to say that he was the highlight of the Browns' dominant wins against the Raiders.

Dylan Sampson also added 23 rushing yards on seven carries and returned one kick. His touchdown midway through the fourth quarter stretched Cleveland’s lead to three scores and essentially sealed the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. And if we talk of the 2025 season as a whole, he has started one game out of 11 played, with 38 carries for 89 yards and 23 catches for 195 yards with two scores.

After this performance, Sampson, along with other rookies of the Cleveland Browns, might just become exactly what the Browns need for the coming seasons as 2025 turns into another disappointment. 

Dylan Sampson Might Be Part of the Puzzle That Leads to a Rebuild

Let’s be honest, the Browns have been a struggling team for years, and this season hasn’t been any different. Cleveland has won just three of their 11 games as Week 13 is knocking on the door. Yet, it’s the rookies like Dylan Sampson and Shedur Sanders that have somehow kept their playoff chances alive. 

That spirited display from Sampson and Snaders has granted them another week of viability. Hall of Famer Deion Sanders' son, Shedur Sanders, played his second game of the season against the Raiders and recorded 11 completed passes out of 20 attempts for 209 yards with 1 touchdown, and took one sack, helping the Browns win 24-10.

With a decorative collegiate career that includes two SWAC championships, the Jerry Rice Award, and the Deacon Jones Trophy, he could just be the quarterback talent the Browns need. Then there is Quinshon Judkins, who has had 173 carries for 667 yards and has scored 7 touchdowns in 10 games this season, not bad for a rookie at all. 

Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Judkins has shown talent, recording 4 carries for 10 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns in 11 games this season, and led the team with four catches against the Raiders. Paired with Dylan Sampson, their four could make the  Browns a dangerous offensive team. 

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi