Browns roster: Analyzing how Cleveland’s RB room could shake out in 2026

Q: Who are the main running backs for the Cleveland Browns in 2026?

The main running backs for the Cleveland Browns in 2026 are expected to be Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, and potentially Raheim Sanders, Ahmani Marshall, or Davon Booth for the remaining spots.

Q: What role does Todd Monken's offense play in the Browns' running back strategy?

Todd Monken's offense heavily relies on the run game, making the running back position crucial for the team's overall success and game planning.

Q: How did Raheim Sanders perform in 2025 for the Browns?

Raheim Sanders showed promise in 2025, demonstrating good performance and pass-catching ability, which positions him well for a potential RB3 role in 2026.

Q: What is the significance of the RB4 position in the Browns' roster?

The RB4 position is significant in the Browns' roster as it is likely to see more utilization than expected in Todd Monken's offense, emphasizing the importance of depth in the running back room.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Dylan Sampson #22 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on December 28, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images One of the more underrated storylines throughout the summer and heading into the 2026 preseason could end up revolving around the running back position simply because of how important it is to the Todd Monken offense. It’s no secret that Monken relies very heavily on the run game when it comes to the success of his offense and how everything sequences off of each other. We saw him utilize **Derrick Henry** beautifully over the past two seasons, and though **Quinshon Judkins** is only heading into year two in Cleveland, he’s shown the ability to be a workhorse-type player as a rookie. Seeing Judkins carry the ball 20 times every week shouldn’t surprise anyone, as it’s the players competing behind him that could make for an interesting development in 2026. The Browns’ new head coach was able to get the most out of guys like **Gus Edwards**, **Justice Hill**, and **** (when healthy) over the past few seasons, and they all had a fairly legitimate role for the team depending on weekly game plans. Just because a team has a true workhorse in the backfield doesn’t mean that the players behind them aren’t important, especially in Monken’s offense. He’s always kept four running backs on the roster plus a fullback, and there’s a very good chance that it’ll stay that way for Cleveland. **Dylan Sampson** is likely locked into the third-down role right now unless he forgets how to play football this year, which means that the team has to find two other legitimate options this summer. The current ball-carriers on the roster behind those two are ****, **Ahmani Marshall**, and 2026 UDFA **Davon Booth**. UDFA RB **T.J. Harden** was reported as signed, but he’s not currently assigned to the roster, so we’ll have to monitor that. For this piece, we’ll exclude him from the options for now. Sanders looked pretty good when on the field in 2025, and he’s a surprisingly good pass-catcher for how big he is (6’0”, 230 lbs.). Unless Cleveland brings in another option to compete for RB3, Sanders has a great shot to solidify himself at that spot heading into 2026. Ahmani Marshall was the training camp and preseason darling of the Browns’ 2025 offseason, and he was retained on the practice squad for most of the year. The previous coaching staff liked him enough to keep him around heading into the offseason, so it’ll be interesting to see what the new offensive staff thinks of him. Shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns signed UDFA RB Davon Booth from Mississippi State, and he looked pretty good as a Senior last year. He’s really twitched up, has decent speed, and appears to see the field well enough to make some noise in camp. Seeing as how they didn’t select a running back in this year’s draft, the team could feel comfortable enough with their first three backfield options. The real competition might end up being for RB4, which will likely be utilized more than some think in Todd Monken’s offense.