Jaleel McLaughlin's Cleveland homecoming gives Browns more than RB insurance

It's evident that head coach Todd Monken is going to want the Cleveland Browns to run the ball plenty with Quinshon Judkins in 2026. Cleveland wants to have balance, and Judkins should benefit from the Browns fully addressing their offensive line over the offseason.

Judkins' production fell off some before his season ended abruptly in the closing stretch of last year, but he is a tough, big-bodied back who will be featured plenty in the offense. Paired with him, Dylan Sampson showed flashes as a capable pass-catching and change-of-pace player last year.

Both are entering their second season with Cleveland as 2025 draft-class members, and they're a couple of exciting young contributors for Browns fans to look out for in the coming season.

Beyond Sampson, though, some Browns fans might have an affinity for a recent insurance addition to the team. Cleveland quietly added Jaleel McLaughlin to its practice squad last month, and he could end up being a factor if Sampson were to miss time at some point.

Jaleel McLaughlin's local roots make him an easy Browns player to root for

McLaughlin has shown he can be a viable pass-catching option on short routes, and could give the team a boost in spurts as a quick runner. Those attributes were likely the rationale by Cleveland in adding him to the mix, following the Denver Broncos' somewhat surprising decision to waive the fourth-year back.

McLaughlin didn't play as much last season with the Broncos, but over the course of his first two years, he posted 55 receptions and rushed for 906 yards on 189 attempts. McLaughlin does a commendable job of getting north and south as a runner. After catching swing and dump-off passes, he can churn out yards when given the opportunities.

McLaughlin's quickness and shiftiness could factor in well from a rotational perspective for Cleveland. He's shown he's more than capable of picking up nice yardage on outside stretch runs and tosses, where his good feet, balance and vision lead to him having a lot of success on those plays.

Granted, at 5-foot-7, 187 pounds, McLaughlin is not likely to have a key role this season with the Browns, but as an insurance asset, it was sensible for Cleveland to add him on the practice squad.

To some, this is a cool story from a local element as well. McLaughlin was a standout performer at Notre Dame College for two seasons, and then starred at Youngstown State for three seasons.

He was known for gashing opponents with big runs and got his share of yards after the catch, thanks largely to his slippery style and open-field skill set. When McLaughlin's collegiate career wrapped up, he was the NCAA leader in rushing yards with 8,166, factoring in all divisions.

It remains to be seen if McLaughlin will have a chance to make his presence felt in games for the Browns. Cleveland has plenty of young pieces that will be garnering their share of touches and looks.

It would be a fun development, though, if he were to make an impact, given his story as an underdog of sorts and his local roots. Time will tell.

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