Why Quinshon Judkins is the perfect trade-down draft pick for the Chiefs

As the offseason’s free agency window closes, the Kansas City Chiefs' roster still lacks a truly dominant presence in the backfield. Isiah Pacheco has struggled to recapture the explosiveness that defined the early stages of his career, and Kareem Hunt, who will turn 30 before the season begins, appears to be showing clear signs of decline.

The only other move made by the top brass was the addition of Elijah Mitchell, a player whose injuries have defined his career thus far. However, General Manager Brett Veach may have a fortunate opportunity ahead.

Ohio State’s standout running back, Quinshon Judkins, is projected to be available when Kansas City selects at pick No. 31 (or possibly early in the second round). Let’s examine his draft profile and why he could be the ideal fit for Andy Reid’s offense.

NFL Draft profile: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Age: 21 (when drafted)

Height: 5-11 5/8 (Combine official)

Weight: 221 lbs. (Combine official)

Chiefs Player Comparison: Isiah Pacheco's Aggression + Kareem Hunt's Vision

RAS: 9.88 (Below)

Quinshon Judkins' background

Despite being rated as only a three-star recruit coming out of high school, Judkins wasted no time proving his doubters wrong. From the moment he stepped onto the field at Ole Miss, he established himself as one of the most dominant forces in SEC history.

His freshman season was nothing less than extraordinary, posting a stat line of 1,567 rushing yards, 17 total touchdowns, and averaging an impressive 5.7 yards per carry against some of the most formidable defenses in college football.

Statistically, his debut season ranks as the second-best in SEC history, trailing only the legendary Herschel Walker’s 1980 campaign. Judkins also displayed remarkable consistency, eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark in eight games, second only to Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson among running backs in this year’s draft class.

His sophomore season further cemented his status as one of the nation’s premier running backs. Racking up 1,158 rushing yards and leading the SEC with 15 touchdowns, he earned First-Team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year, ensuring his first season was not a fluke.

However, as the 2024 season approached, Judkins made a pivotal decision—one that reflected his competitive drive and desire for team success over personal accolades. Seeking an opportunity to compete for a national championship, Judkins transferred to Ohio State, a team with a legitimate chance at the title.

In his final collegiate season, Judkins' production dipped, but he remained a dominant force, rushing for 1,060 yards at an average of 5.5 yards per carry and scoring 16 total touchdowns, all while leading his team to its first national championship in a decade. While his statistical output slightly declined, his impact on the field remains undeniable, as he played a crucial role in Ohio State’s offensive success and their eventual title run.

Why Judkins fits the Chiefs

It's no secret that the Chiefs need additional depth in their running back room, explosive or not. However, if Quinshon Judkins were on the roster for Kansas City’s opening day, the offense’s potential would increase dramatically. Judkins’ skill set can be distilled into three key traits: his patience, his ability to create explosive plays, and his unmatched reliability. Each of these qualities makes him an ideal fit for an offense looking to maintain balance while adding a dynamic new element to its backfield.

Let’s take a closer look at these three key aspects of his game.

Patience and Vision:

Patience and vision are the two most essential traits for a running back, often serving as the best indicators of how well they will transition from college to the NFL. While Ashton Jeanty boasts exceptional contact balance and Omarion Hampton possesses the quickest feet in this draft class, it is Quinshon Judkins’ mastery of patience and vision that truly sets him apart.

Judkins’ film consistently highlights his ability to trust his offensive line, allowing blocks to develop before making his cut upfield. He demonstrates a rare blend of discipline and anticipation, ensuring he maximizes each run by letting the play unfold rather than forcing an early decision.

In the clip below, Judkins subtly sells the draw with a false step before taking the handoff. Watch his tempo as he approaches the line of scrimmage—there’s no unnecessary urgency, no premature acceleration, and no hesitation. Instead, he advances at a moderate pace while scanning the field, reading “cloudy to clear” as he identifies the developing cutback lane. The moment it opens, he accelerates through the gap, taking full advantage of the defense’s over-pursuit to break loose for a massive 70-yard gain.

This sequence encapsulates what makes Judkins such a unique talent: His ability to remain patient, trust his blockers, and strike with precision when the opportunity presents itself. This nearly ensures he will not become a bust in the NFL.

Big Play Ability:

While vision and patience are important traits for a running back, true greatness comes from the ability to capitalize on light boxes by turning normal runs into explosive plays. This is the skill that separates efficient runners from those who leave a lasting legacy. Quinshon Judkins not only has this ability but consistently uses it to force defenses to respect the run, thereby opening up opportunities for the passing game—an aspect of the offense desperately needed by Kansas City.

In the clip below, Judkins exemplifies this dynamic playmaking ability, transforming what should have been a modest 2-yard gain into a massive 29-yard gain with his acceleration and aggressive running style. Despite taking an early hit, his above-average contact balance allows him to power through the initial defenders and keep going. However, with defenders in pursuit, he shifts into another gear, bouncing the run outside in search of more space.

Just as Judkins appears poised to break away completely, a missed block by his wide receiver forces him back inside, where he is eventually brought down. Had that block been executed, Judkins could have easily turned a routine short-yardage play into a 46-yard touchdown.

Reliability:

Even with all of the traits previously stated, it would mean nothing without reliability. Reliability means protecting the football, making decisive and consistent reads, and elevating performance when the stakes are highest.

Quinshon Judkins exemplifies this standard. Across an impressive 739 collegiate carries, he never once fumbled the football. Not only that, but during his two seasons at Ole Miss (25 games), he was held to fewer than 50 rushing yards only three times, underscoring his dependability as a focal point of the offense.

Additionally, in six College Football Playoff and bowl appearances—the most important games of the year—Judkins has averaged 75 rushing yards per game, dipping below 85 yards just twice.

Judkins epitomizes consistency, and his ability to deliver in crucial moments makes him an ideal fit for the Chiefs’ offense. From day one, he has the traits to seamlessly integrate himself into the offense and gain the trust of Mahomes and Reid.

Concerns about Judkins

Yards After Contact:

The primary concern with Quinshon Judkins’ game is his ability to consistently generate yards after contact (an area where he excelled at Ole Miss but showed some inconsistencies during his time at Ohio State). This fluctuation in production has raised questions about whether he can reliably sustain that aspect of his game for years at a time.

Unfortunately, at times, when accelerating upfield, Judkins' running style leans more toward finesse rather than aggression, occasionally limiting his effectiveness in breaking through tackles and punishing overly aggressive defensive backs. While this isn’t a glaring weakness, it’s an area that NFL teams will closely evaluate as they assess his potential as an every-down back.

Analysis

Given the lack of depth in the Chiefs' running back room, Judkins' likely draft position, and Kansas City’s urgent need to revamp its offense ahead of another Super Bowl run, he stands out as one of the most impactful potential selections for Brett Veach in the 2025 NFL Draft. Judkins’ combination of patience, vision, explosive playmaking, and reliability makes him an ideal fit for Andy Reid’s system.

If Judkins can refine his contact balance and improve his consistency after that contact, he has the potential to emerge as a top-five running back in the NFL. More importantly, he will be a back capable of restoring Kansas City’s offense to its former dominance.