Browns Reportedly Open to Jerome Ford Trade After Quinshon Judkins' 3-TD Breakout Game

Quinshon Judkins' breakout Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins could spark change in the Cleveland Browns backfield.

The Cleveland Browns are "open" to trading running back Jerome Ford ahead of the 2025 deadline, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday.

As of Wednesday the "tailback market hasn't intensified," Fowler noted, although teams have almost two weeks remaining until the trade window closes at 4 p.m. ET.

Fowler's reported comes three days after Judkins recorded 25 carries for 84 yards and three touchdowns in last Sunday's 31-6 win over the Dolphins.

Ford meanwhile played a season-low 13 offensive snaps as rookie running back Dylan Sampson received more carries than him for a second straight game.

After making 12 starts in his sophomore 2023 season, Ford saw his usage drop alongside Nick Chubb's increased availability in 2024.

Chubb may have left this offseason to join the Houston Texans in free agency, but it seems like the Browns' focus on running backs in the 2025 draft could be enough to push Ford out of the rotation entirely.

Should the Browns decide to continue leaning on Judkins and Sampson, ESPN named the Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and Texans as the best "team fits" for Ford.

The Chargers are in need of a running back after losing Najee Harris to a season-ending injury and Omarion Hampton to an ankle injury that left him on IR. Texans running back Joe Mixon has been sidelined for the season so far with a foot and ankle injury, while the Patriots lost Antonio Gibson to a torn ACL earlier this month.

How Judkins and Sampson play in the two weeks leading up to the deadline could potentially impact how willing the Browns are to part ways with Ford.

The rookies will be tasked with taking on a Patriots run defense that has allowed just 540 total yards through six games when the two teams meet Sunday for a Week 8 matchup in New England.